Elizabeth, NJ Property Maintenance: Property Blight (2026)

090 declares it a public nuisance for any owner to cause, permit, or maintain a vacant property in violation of the section's requirements, and it obligates the owner or the person responsible for the property's care to perform regular weekly inspections. The security and maintenance list is extensive: all windows and doors must be secured, with deadbolts on every exterior door leading to living or common areas; broken glass must be replaced or the opening boarded; sliding doors double-locked; detached garages and outbuildings padlocked; and automatic garage door openers unplugged.

The property must stay free of graffiti, which must be removed or painted over in a matching exterior color, and must be landscaped and maintained, not left to weeds, gravel, or debris. Pools, spas, and water features must be kept clear and working or drained and dry, and must meet the same fencing rules as any other pool. Utilities must be properly disconnected or kept in working order, building appurtenances like gutters and railings must stay securely attached, and the property must be cleared of accumulated newspapers, furniture, and illegally stored vehicles.

The owner must also clear snow, ice, or sleet from an adjoining sidewalk to a four-foot width within twelve hours of daylight after it falls. 110 lets the city or its contractor secure it and place a lien for the cost.