Old Bridge, NJ Sidewalk & Pedestrian Rules: Encroachment Permits (2026)
Key Facts
- Permit fee
- $100 nonrefundable; $200 if work starts unpermitted
- Bond minimum
- $1,000 or $25/sq ft, whichever is greater
- Work window
- No street openings Dec. 15 to March 15
- Permit duration
- Begin within 10 days, finish within 180 days
- Homeowner exemption
- No permit for own residential sidewalk work
- Issuing authority
- Township Engineer
Summary
In Old Bridge Township, anyone digging into, excavating or disturbing a public street, sidewalk, alley or other public place needs written permission from the Township Engineer under Code § 435-11. Each opening requires its own permit application, a nonrefundable $100 fee, and a cash escrow or bond under § 435-14 and § 435-29. Residential homeowners doing their own sidewalk work are exempt under § 435-12.
No person shall remove, dig into, disturb, excavate or take up or cause or procure to be removed, disturbed, excavated or dug up the surface of any public street, lane, alley, court, sidewalk or other public place or any pavement therein, except roads not under the jurisdiction of the Township, without the written permission of the Township Engineer, whose duty it shall be to grant such permission when all of the requirements of this article for granting the same have been complied with by the applicant. A separate permit shall be required for each opening made. ... The provisions of this article requiring a permit shall not apply to a residential homeowner who is installing, improving, repairing or totally removing sidewalks on said residential property. ... In addition to the cash escrow/bond provided in this article, the applicant for any permit to disturb, excavate or dig up any street shall pay the following nonrefundable application fee for each permit: $100. In the event a permit is not obtained prior to the commencement of work, the fee shall be doubled to $200.
Full Breakdown
The permit process is administered by the Township Engineer's office under Chapter 435, Article IV, Excavations. An applicant must file on Township forms stating the purpose of the excavation and the name of the person who will restore the pavement, along with a diagram of the work under § 435-13; an amended diagram is required if the work varies materially from the plan. Work must begin within 10 days of permit issuance and be completed within 180 days, and no street opening is allowed at all between December 15 and March 15 except in an emergency, under § 435-15.
Every public utility must file an annual $10,000 bond with the Township Clerk, while other permittees post a cash bond or third-party surety of not less than $1,000 or $25 per square foot, whichever is greater, under § 435-29; that same section lets the Township Engineer require reopening and a fresh bond if a permittee starts without a permit or without an inspector present. Inspection fees run $50 per half hour under § 435-14. A separate street pavement moratorium in § 435-31.1 bars cutting into a street for five years after it has been constructed, reconstructed or repaved, though the Township Engineer may grant exemptions for adjacent development, emergency repairs or utility upgrades.
Residential homeowners installing, repairing or fully removing their own sidewalk do not need a permit at all under § 435-12, but every other opening in a street, sidewalk, alley, court or public place requires the Engineer's written sign-off, and a permittee who damages pavement, curbing or trees while working must repair the damage or the Township will do so and bill the cost, per § 435-27.
Violations & Fines
Chapter 435's excavation article carries no standalone fine, so a violation, working without a permit, missing the winter moratorium window, or failing to restore pavement, falls under the Township's general penalty in Code § 1-3: a fine of up to $1,250, up to 90 days' imprisonment, up to 90 days of community service, or a combination, with each day of a continuing violation counted separately under § 1-4. The Township Engineer can also order reopening and require an additional bond before further permits issue.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to repair my own sidewalk in Old Bridge?
How much does an excavation permit cost in Old Bridge Township?
Can I open a street in Old Bridge during winter?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Old Bridge
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Encroachment Permits in Nearby Cities
How other cities in this county handle encroachment permits.