Ridgewood Chapter 223 prohibits blighting conditions on properties, requiring weed control, secure vacant structures, and clean, sanitary premises with escalating fines for repeat offenses.
Ridgewood's Chapter 223 Property Maintenance code, Article XI Environmental Requirements, requires that all premises and exterior property be maintained free from weeds or plant growth in excess of 10 inches. Noxious weeds, defined as poison ivy, poison oak, poison sumac, and ragweed, are prohibited on any property. All vacant structures and vacant land must be maintained in clean, safe, secure, and sanitary condition so they do not cause a blighting problem or adversely affect public health or safety. Weeds are defined as grasses, annual plants, and vegetation other than trees or shrubs, excluding cultivated flowers and gardens.
Allowing weeds over 10 inches, growing noxious weeds, or letting structures or lots fall into blight are violations subject to escalating fines: $125, $250, and $350 for first, second, and third or subsequent offenses.
See how other cities in Bergen County handle property blight.
See how Ridgewood's property blight rules stack up against other locations.
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