Bayonne, NJ Property Maintenance: Vacant Lot Maintenance (2026)

Bayonne's vacant property ordinance, Section 17-16.2, treats vacant unimproved lots differently from vacant buildings. The owner or mortgagee of a vacant unimproved property must secure it against entry with a permanently affixed chain link fence carrying forest or dark green privacy slats around the entire perimeter, built to the City's specifications on file with the Building Official's office, and must first get a zoning approval and a building permit before installing that fence. The owner must also affix a sign to the fence at least eight inches by 10 inches, showing the name, address and phone number of the owner and of whoever handles day-to-day supervision if that is a different person.

Beyond fencing, the owner must keep the yards, sidewalks, walkways, rights-of-way, alleys, retaining walls and driveways on the lot well maintained and free of trash, debris, loose litter, grass and weed growth. The Police Department, Construction Official, Fire Official, and Health or Zoning Officers can serve violations, and service is complete once notice goes out by both regular and certified mail to the owner's last known address or the address on file with the Tax Assessor. A separate companion provision, Section 17-1, requires any owner of land in the City, vacant or not, to keep it free of brush, weeds, dead trees and debris that create a fire hazard or threaten public health.