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

Two parts of the Plainfield Municipal Code reach a vacant lot in the City of Plainfield: the litter rule in Chapter 10 and the weed and debris rule in Chapter 15.

Section 10:5-7, titled Litter on vacant lots, says no person shall throw, place, deposit or permit to be thrown, placed or deposited, upon any public or private lot, litter of any description. Section 10:5-1 defines litter to include garbage, refuse and rubbish and other waste material, and Section 10:5-13 adds that no person shall throw or deposit litter on any private property, whether owned by that person or not.

Chapter 15, Article 2 covers what grows or piles up on the land. Section 15:2-1 requires owners, occupants or tenants to remove and destroy all brush, weeds, including ragweed, dead and dying trees, stumps, roots, obnoxious growths, filth, garbage, trash and debris from their lands within ten days after written notice. Under Section 15:2-4, if they refuse or neglect, the City can remove or destroy those items itself, and in cases of extreme danger to persons or property the City can require immediate compliance.

The cost lands on the lot. Section 15:2-5 has the Director of Public Affairs and Safety or a designee certify the cost to the Collector of Taxes. After approval by the City Administrator and the Mayor's signature, the Collector charges the amount against the lands, where it becomes a lien, is added to the taxes next to be assessed and levied, and bears interest at the same rate as taxes. The same officers collect it in the same manner as taxes.