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

Section 150-6A prohibits throwing or depositing litter on any open or vacant private property, whether or not the person doing the dumping owns it, and extends the same ban to publicly owned vacant land. Section 150-6B separately obligates the owner of vacant or unoccupied land, and the tenant of any occupied land, that abuts a public sidewalk, avenue or highway to keep the adjoining sidewalks and gutters clear of grass, weeds and other impediments. Enforcement runs through § 150-7: the enforcing officer or a designated agent can serve the owner, lessee or agent written notice by certified mail or personal service directing removal of litter, grass, weeds or other impediments that endanger public health, safety or welfare.

If the recipient does not comply within 10 days of receiving the notice, or within 10 days of the Post Office returning an undeliverable but properly addressed notice, the Health Officer can proceed to abate the condition directly whenever it constitutes an actual menace to health. The City then charges the actual cost of that cleanup to the owner on the next regular tax bill; if the owner still has not paid within 30 days of the City's cleanup, the Director of Public Works records a sworn cost statement with the City Clerk that becomes a lien on the property, accruing interest and collection costs until paid in full, collected the same way as delinquent taxes.