Ridgewood, NJ Sidewalk & Pedestrian Rules: Obstruction Rules (2026)

Chapter 249, Article II of the Village Code, titled "Obstructions," defines SIDEWALK broadly at § 249-13 as all space between the building line and the curb of any street in the Village of Ridgewood, Bergen County, plus any space between a building and the building line dedicated by the owner for sidewalk use. § 249-22 further prohibits enclosing any part of a street with a fence, terrace, building or other encroachment, or placing any nuisance in the right-of-way. Enforcement runs through the Village's Local Supplemental Violations Bureau Schedule set under § 1-15: the schedule lists § 249-14 obstruction of streets, gutters, curbs or sidewalks as a $100 payable amount for a first offense and $150 (§ 249-14a) for a second offense, both fixed amounts a violator can pay directly to the Violations Bureau rather than appear in Municipal Court.

This is distinct from the encroachment-permit process in §§ 249-15 and 249-16, which lets a property owner lawfully occupy the sidewalk temporarily with a permit; § 249-14 targets unpermitted obstructions and hazards left in the public way.