East Brunswick, NJ Sidewalk & Pedestrian Rules: Obstruction Rules (2026)

The most specific sidewalk rule is in § 114-1.3, added 3-27-17 by Ord. 17-14. Under § 114-1.2, no person can place a roll-off container or dumpster on any street or municipally owned parking lot without a permit. Under § 114-1.3, the Chief of Police issues the permit for use as a temporary street obstruction after a written application, and first determines that the use will not constitute a traffic or safety hazard. The container cannot sit on a public street less than 30 feet wide from curb to curb, and it cannot obstruct any part of the sidewalk or the sidewalk areas adjacent to the street. The application carries a nonrefundable filing fee of $25 or another fee set by resolution of the Township Council. Each permit lasts 14 days, and a written application extends it for an additional 14 days. Under § 114-1.4, the permit holder is responsible for repair of any street, sidewalk and curb damage caused by placing, moving or removing the container.

Section 209-17.6, added 6-10-2024 by Ord. No. 24-11, covers loose objects. No person can obstruct or encumber any street, road, highway, public lane, alley, or parking space within the public right-of-way by placing items such as garbage cans, furniture, boxes, lumber or traffic cones where they obstruct passage or block parking spaces. Section 102-19 adds that nobody can place bumps, fences, gates, chains, bars, pipes or any other obstruction on a private street without the written consent of the appropriate Fire Official.

Snow is the other obstruction. Section 189-1 makes owners, occupants and tenants of abutting premises remove snow and ice from the sidewalk within twelve hours of daylight after it falls, and § 189-2 forbids throwing snow onto sidewalks or streets.