Passaic, NJ Property Maintenance: Property Blight (2026)

' Section 219-183 enumerates the substandard conditions that trigger the process: inadequate sanitation (missing or improper water closets, lavatories, bathtubs, kitchen sinks, hot and cold water, heat, ventilation or lighting; infestation; general dilapidation), structural hazards (deteriorated foundations, floor supports, walls or roof members incapable of safely carrying imposed loads), any nuisance as defined in the code, hazardous wiring or plumbing, faulty weather protection such as broken windows or deteriorated exterior coverings, a fire hazard as determined by the Fire Chief, faulty construction materials, inadequate exits or fire-protection equipment, and improper occupancy of spaces never designed for living, sleeping, cooking or dining.

Section 219-184 puts the Housing Officer in charge of enforcement: acting on his own initiative or on a petition signed by at least five residents alleging a building is unfit for human habitation or use, the Housing Officer must inspect, make preliminary findings against the § 219-183 standards, and serve notice by certified mail on the owner, operator, occupant, all lienholders and other parties in interest, setting a hearing no less than seven days after the mailing date. 2 converts any unpaid costs into a municipal lien; an owner has 60 days from the lien filing to contest the reasonableness of those costs in Superior Court.