Piscataway, NJ Sidewalk & Pedestrian Rules: Sidewalk Repair (2026)

Township Code § 17-3.3, adopted under Ordinance No. 07-25, states the general duty in a single sentence: "It shall be the duty of any owner and occupant of real property within the Township to keep the sidewalk and curb abutting such property maintained and properly repaired so as to minimize any endangerment to the public health, safety and welfare of any individual using the sidewalks." For land used for assembly, business, mercantile or multi-family residential purposes, § 17-3.4 adds a formal process: once a sidewalk or curb is out of line, grade or repair, the Township Council can adopt a resolution and serve written notice giving the owner and occupant 30 days to complete the specified work themselves, with an exception for sidewalks currently under a performance or maintenance bond or installed incorrectly by a developer the Township still controls.

If the owner does not act within that 30 days, § 17-3.5 lets the Public Works Department do the work and certify its cost to the Tax Collector, at which point the cost becomes a lien on the property collectible the same way as other local improvement assessments, with the Township also able to sue the owner directly for the amount. Section 17-3.6 sets the penalty for a straight violation of § 17-3.3 or noncompliance with a § 17-3.4 notice at a fine of not less than $250 nor more than $2,000 upon conviction, and that prosecution can proceed regardless of whether the Township also pursues the lien-and-billing remedy under § 17-3.5.