Garfield requires owners of vacant buildings to register the property, secure the structure within 30 days, and keep the surrounding grounds free of debris, overgrowth, and unauthorized entry points.
Garfield's Vacant and Abandoned Property Registration ordinance requires owners to register vacant buildings with the city and pay an initial registration fee of $250. Within 30 days of vacancy, owners must enclose and secure the building against unauthorized entry and ensure the exterior grounds, including yards, fences, sidewalks, and driveways, remain well-maintained and free from trash, debris, loose litter, and grass and weed growth. The city's broader Property Maintenance Code overlay still applies, including the eight-inch weed-height limit. Failure to register, secure, or maintain a vacant property exposes the owner to property maintenance fines of $100 to $2,000 per offense, with each day a separate offense.
Failing to register a vacant building, leaving doors or windows unsecured, allowing trash or weeds to accumulate on a vacant lot, or ignoring city orders to clean and secure the property.
See how other cities in Bergen County handle vacant lot maintenance.
See how Garfield's vacant lot maintenance rules stack up against other locations.
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