Plainfield, NJ Property Maintenance: Property Blight (2026)

The Property Maintenance Code sits in Chapter 6, Article 2 of the Plainfield Municipal Code and was amended in its entirety on 11-10-2025 by Ord. No. MC 2025-39. Section 6:2-5A-1 adopts the state Abandoned Properties Rehabilitation Act, N.J.S.A. 55:19-79 et seq., and § 6:2-5A-2 directs the Public Officer to keep a list of abandoned properties showing tax block and lot, owner of record if known, and street address.

A property reaches the list only after six months without legal occupancy plus one of four findings: rehabilitation needed and not started, construction stopped for at least three months and leaving the building unsuitable for occupancy, at least one delinquent property tax installment, or a nuisance determination under N.J.S.A. 55:19-82. Under § 6:2-5A-3(c), listing is not a finding that the use was abandoned for zoning purposes.

Any resident, business owner in the City or neighborhood organization can ask in writing for a property to be added, giving the address, block, lot and grounds. The Public Officer must answer in writing within 30 days. Interested parties can also take part in a redetermination hearing, with at least 20 days notice on written request (§ 6:2-5A-4).

Once a property is listed, the Public Officer can file summary actions in Superior Court to take possession and control, rehabilitate the building and recoup costs through municipal liens (§ 6:2-5A-5). Separately, § 6:2-7 lets the City Council attach a lien by resolution for abatement costs, after an administration official certifies the work performed and that its cost was reasonable and necessary (§ 6:2-8).

Vacant property registration under § 6:2-5A-7 covers any building vacant for more than 30 days or with a cancelled utility service, plus properties in foreclosure. Owners register within 30 days and renew every year. A vacant property not in foreclosure pays $500 at initial registration, $1,500 at the first renewal, $3,000 at the second and $5,000 for any later renewal. Liability insurance of not less than $300,000 is required on residential buildings and $1,000,000 on any other building, and a sign at least 18 inches x 24 inches must name the owner, the agent and the maintenance contact.