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

Under Township Code § 25-6.1, no person may obstruct, encumber or occupy any public street, highway or sidewalk area, including with construction machinery, without first getting a written permit from the Director. A sidewalk bridge is exempt only if a separate permit was already issued by the Construction Code Division. Applicants file with the Director, listing the property block and lot, the extent and dates of the obstruction, and sign a hold-harmless statement (§ 25-6.2). The permit runs a maximum of 30 consecutive days and may be extended at the Director's discretion (§ 25-6.3).

Before issuance, the applicant must file public liability coverage of at least $100,000 per person and $300,000 per accident, plus property damage coverage of at least $25,000 per accident and $50,000 aggregate, approved by the Township's Director of Law (§ 25-6.4). Fees run $50 in or near a nonresidential zone or $25 elsewhere, or 10% of the required escrow, whichever is greater, and the escrow itself is billed at $1 per square foot for material storage or $2.50 per square foot where construction equipment is loaded or unloaded, with a $50 minimum that doubles in nonresidential zones (§§ 25-6.5, 25-6.7).

Once permitted, the obstruction must leave at least two-thirds of the street or highway pavement width free at all times, keep manholes, hydrants and catch basins clear, and maintain a pedestrian passageway no less than 4 feet wide with barricades and, where materials are hoisted overhead, a sidewalk shed (§§ 25-6.9, 25-6.10).