Homelessness & Encampment Rules in New Jersey (2026)
16 rules on the books across New Jersey, 13 cities and counties. Select a rule to read the full details.
Severity: Few Restrictions · Light Restrictions · Some Restrictions · Significant Restrictions · Heavy Restrictions
Sit-Lie Rules
Citywide rules against sitting or lying on public sidewalks during specified daytime hours in commercial corridors, including how courts have constrained enforcement.
Perth Amboy
Significant RestrictionsIn the City of Perth Amboy, New Jersey, lying on a public sidewalk is prohibited, sitting on one for more than one hour…
Read full rule →East Brunswick
Some RestrictionsIn East Brunswick Township, § 158-8(I) makes it unlawful in a park to sleep or protractedly lounge on the seats…
Read full rule →Gloucester County
Some RestrictionsGloucester County bars park visitors from sleeping or protractedly lounging on benches, seats, or other park equipment…
Read full rule →Parsippany Troy Hills
Some RestrictionsParsippany-Troy Hills has no ordinance that bans sitting or lying on sidewalks as such. Chapter 271 bars purposely or…
Read full rule →Encampment Sanitation
How cities provide trash, hygiene, and bulky-item pickup at encampments, the CARE/CARE+ cleanups in LA, and the storage-of-belongings rules from Lavan v. LA.
Clifton
Heavy RestrictionsClifton's parks code makes it unlawful to pitch a tent, shack or other temporary shelter for overnight camping anywhere…
Read full rule →Gloucester County
Heavy RestrictionsGloucester County bars erecting tents or any temporary shelter for overnight camping in its parks. Section 2(r) of the…
Read full rule →Howell
Heavy RestrictionsHowell Township Code § 220-13, added 10-1-2024 by Ord. No. 24-39, bars sleeping or camping, or setting up any temporary…
Read full rule →Trenton
Heavy RestrictionsTrenton bars sleeping, lodging, or taking up residence on any street, sidewalk, park, public building floor, or the…
Read full rule →Vineland
Heavy RestrictionsVineland bans camping or sleeping on any street, sidewalk or streetscape improvement at any time under § 630-3B. Before…
Read full rule →Bayonne
Significant RestrictionsCity Code Section 13-5d bars anyone from living in, camping in, or building a shelter, cooking device or landscape…
Read full rule →Burlington County
Significant RestrictionsRule 18 of the Burlington County Parks System Rules and Regulations bars camping, tents, shelters or encampments…
Read full rule →East Brunswick
Significant RestrictionsIn East Brunswick Township, § 158-6(F) bars camping in any Township park outside designated camp sites for supervised…
Read full rule →Lakewood
Significant RestrictionsTownship Code § 3-26 makes it unlawful to camp, with a tent, tarp, sleeping bag or similar shelter, on private property…
Read full rule →Old Bridge
Significant RestrictionsOld Bridge Township bans camping on any street, sidewalk, park, public right-of-way or under a bridge under § 93-2 of…
Read full rule →Parsippany Troy Hills
Some RestrictionsIn Parsippany-Troy Hills, camping in Township parks requires a permit from the Department of Recreational Services, no…
Read full rule →Wayne
Some RestrictionsSection 129-20(A)(22) of the Wayne Township Code bars setting up tents, shacks or any other temporary shelter for…
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