Old Bridge, NJ Property Maintenance: Property Blight (2026)

Township Code § 366-1 adopts the IPMC, 2006 edition, to regulate the condition and maintenance of all property, buildings and structures, and to authorize condemnation of unsafe existing structures. Section 366-2 renames the enforcing official the "Construction Official, Director of Code Enforcement" (amending IPMC § 103.1) and folds IPMC penalties into Chapter 1, Article II of the Township Code (amending IPMC § 106.4). Under § 366-3, that official mails or hand-delivers a written notice of the specific violation to the owner, occupant or agent; if the notice comes back undelivered, a copy is posted on the structure.

The owner then has 20 days from receipt to cure the condition. If a property in foreclosure is involved, notice can also go to the mortgagee. Section 366-4 lets the Business Administrator or a designee step in and abate the condition once that 20-day window lapses without a reasonable cure effort. Section 366-5 turns the Township's abatement cost into a lien: the Code Enforcement Official (through Public Works or an outside contractor) certifies the actual labor cost plus a 25% surcharge, with a $100 administrative-fee floor, to the Township Council, which can approve charging it against the property.

The Township Clerk certifies the approved resolution to the Tax Collector, and the amount is added to and collected with the property's taxes, bearing the same interest rate. An appeal of a code determination costs a nonrefundable $100 per violation under § 366-2.G, and Board of Appeals members serve without compensation. The closing of any vacant structure under the code cannot occur until Old Bridge police complete a premises search for public safety concerns, per the § 366-2.F amendment to IPMC § 108.2.