Union County municipalities (Elizabeth, Plainfield, Union Township) prohibit outdoor lighting that causes glare or illumination on neighboring properties. Elizabeth Code Ch. 5.1 Zoning requires shielded fixtures in residential zones.
Elizabeth's Land Development Ordinance and Union Township Code Ch. 170 require outdoor lighting fixtures to be directed downward and shielded to prevent light spillover onto adjacent properties. Residential property line illumination is capped at 0.5 foot-candles. Security lights must be aimed at the owner's property only. Commercial and industrial properties in Elizabeth's IAG/IAR industrial zones face stricter photometric standards measured at property boundaries. Floodlights pointed at neighboring homes violate Union County's nuisance provisions under N.J.S.A. 40:48-2.12. Holiday and decorative lighting receive temporary seasonal exemptions. Complaints are investigated by the local construction/zoning official; persistent violations referred to municipal court.
Warning notice with 30-day correction period. Continued violations: fines $100 to $500 per Elizabeth Code §3-23. Commercial repeat offenders face penalties up to $1,250 and daily continuing violation charges.
Union County, NJ
Union County municipalities restrict leaf blower operation by hour, with Westfield, Summit, and Maplewood-adjacent Cranford imposing seasonal gas-blower limi...
Union County, NJ
Elizabeth Code Ch. 7.24 prohibits abandoned vehicles on streets (72-hr limit) or visible on private property. NJ's Abandoned Vehicle Law (N.J.S.A. 39:10A-1) ...
Union County, NJ
Elizabeth and Union County municipalities require building permits for retaining walls over 4 ft (measured from bottom of footing to top of wall) per N.J.A.C...
Union County, NJ
NJ Uniform Construction Code (N.J.A.C. 5:23-3.14) mandates minimum 4-ft pool barriers. Elizabeth and most Union County towns require 5-ft fences with self-cl...
Union County, NJ
NJ Division of Fish & Wildlife prohibits feeding of black bears (N.J.A.C. 7:25-5.25) statewide. Union County municipalities also restrict feeding of deer, fe...
Union County, NJ
Union County is urban/suburban with low wildfire risk — not a designated NJ Forest Fire Service high-hazard zone. NJ Forest Fire Service (N.J.S.A. 13:9-1) re...
See how Union County's light trespass rules stack up against other locations.
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