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Irvington, NJ Public Conduct: Public Alcohol Use (2026)

Heavy Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

Governing section
§ 439-18, alcohol on public grounds
Covered areas
Streets, parks, playgrounds, Township property
Special-permit deposit
$1,000 nonrefundable (ABC Committee)
1st-offense fine
$50
4th-offense fine
$750, court appearance required
Last amended
12-22-2025 by Ord. No. MC 3928

Summary

Township Code Section 439-18 makes every street, park, playground and Township-owned property alcohol-free: no one may carry a drink for the purpose of consuming it there, or actually drink there, unless a state Social Affairs or Catering Permit, or a Township ABC Committee special permit, covers the event.

No person shall place, carry or have in his/her possession on Township property, as hereinafter defined, any alcoholic beverage as the same is defined in the Alcoholic Beverage Law of the State of New Jersey (N.J.S.A. 33:1-1 et seq.) for the purpose of drinking or consuming the same therein, nor shall any person drink or consume any such alcoholic beverage in any such public place; and ... a "public place" shall mean any street, thoroughfare or alley, park, recreational area, playground and properties owned by the Township of Irvington; and ... All public places, as defined in this article, are alcohol-free.

View official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4996945; v39 updated 2026-07-13; through 07-13-2026).

Full Breakdown

Section 439-18 was rewritten twice in three years, amended 8-14-2023 by Ordinance No. MC 3836 and again 12-22-2025 by Ordinance No. MC 3928, so the alcohol-free designation now in force is barely a year old. A. , on Township property for the purpose of drinking it, and separately bars actually drinking it there. Subsection B defines 'public place' broadly: every street, thoroughfare, alley, park, recreational area, playground and any property the Township owns. Subsection C then declares flatly that all such places are alcohol-free, carving out only narrow paths back in: a State of New Jersey Social Affairs Permit or Catering Permit; a Special Permit issued by the Township's ABC Committee Chair on a $1,000 nonrefundable deposit for a picnic or other activity run by a nonprofit corporation or organization, with final approval by the Chair if no Committee meeting is scheduled before the event; or a cleaning fee the ABC Board sets at booking, which the Board may also waive along with the special-permit fee.

The fine schedule at Section 439-35 treats a Section 439-18 violation as one of only three offenses in Article I with its own set dollar penalties, escalating across four offense tiers with a mandatory court appearance at the top.

Violations & Fines

Section 439-35 sets Section 439-18's penalty on its own schedule: $50 for a first offense, $150 for a second, $250 for a third, and $750 with a mandatory court appearance for a fourth or later offense. Every other Article I violation defaults instead to the general $2,000/90-day penalty at Section 1-17.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I ever drink alcohol in an Irvington park?
Only with a permit. Section 439-18 declares every park, street, playground and Township-owned property alcohol-free, but allows an exception for a State Social Affairs or Catering Permit, or a Special Permit from the Township's ABC Committee Chair for a nonprofit's picnic or event, backed by a $1,000 nonrefundable deposit.
What counts as a 'public place' under this rule?
Section 439-18B defines it as any street, thoroughfare or alley, park, recreational area, playground, and any property owned by the Township of Irvington, a definition broad enough to reach nearly every outdoor Township-owned space, not just designated parks.
How much is the fine for drinking on public grounds?
The schedule at Section 439-35 runs $50 for a first offense, $150 for a second, $250 for a third, and up to $750 with a mandatory court appearance required for a fourth or subsequent violation; the ABC Committee's special-permit deposit is a separate $1,000 charge that does not offset any fine.
Who issues the special permit for a picnic with alcohol?
The Township's ABC Committee Chair issues the Special Permit against a $1,000 nonrefundable deposit for a picnic or other activity sponsored by a nonprofit corporation or organization, with final approval by the Chair if no ABC Committee meeting is scheduled before the event.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Irvington

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All Irvington rules

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