Trenton, NJ Local Taxes & Fees: Parking Tax (2026)
Key Facts
- Surcharge rate
- 7% of each parking fee
- Adopted
- 4-3-2014 by Ord. No. 14-09
- Who pays
- Facility operator
- Use of funds
- Abandoned building demolition
- Also owed
- $10/space license fee under Ch. 184
Summary
Trenton imposes a 7% surcharge on every fee collected for parking, garaging or storing motor vehicles at public and commercial parking facilities, on top of the separate per-space license fee, with proceeds earmarked for demolishing abandoned buildings.
§ 185-2. License surcharge imposed. In addition to the license fee in Chapter 184, every public and commercial parking facility shall collect and pay a 7% surcharge on each and every fee for the parking, garaging, or storing of motor vehicles, to the City of Trenton as per § 185-3. The ultimate incidence and liability for payment of such fee is to be borne by the operator of the parking facility.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4853025; v21 updated 2025-12-16; through 12-16-2025).
Full Breakdown
Chapter 185, adopted April 3, 2014 by Ordinance No. 14-09, imposes a license surcharge under § 185-2: every public and commercial parking facility must collect and pay a 7% surcharge on each and every fee for the parking, garaging, or storing of motor vehicles, remitted to the City as provided in § 185-3, with the operator ultimately liable for payment. This surcharge is separate from and additional to the $10-per-space license fee already levied under Chapter 184. Section 185-3 dedicates the surcharge collections specifically to demolishing and removing abandoned buildings or structures within the City, with any excess going to infrastructure projects; it is not a general-fund revenue source.
Facilities that fail or refuse to pay have their surcharge amount determined by the City Clerk, who then notifies the business by mail and can access the facility's books and records to calculate what is owed (§ 185-4). The City Clerk and authorized agents also have a right of access to inspect facilities for compliance (§ 185-5), and interfering with that access is independently unlawful under both sections.
Violations & Fines
A facility that fails to collect or remit the 7% surcharge, or that obstructs the City Clerk's access under §§ 185-4 and 185-5, is subject to enforcement under Chapter 185; unpaid amounts determined by the Clerk become immediately due, and violations of the chapter's access and compliance provisions carry penalties under Chapter 1, Article III, General Penalty (fine up to $2,000, up to 90 days jail or community service).
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Trenton's parking surcharge separate from the parking lot license fee?
What does Trenton do with the parking surcharge money?
Who is legally responsible for paying the surcharge?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Trenton
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