Borough of Rutherford, NJ Article XV Weeds, Refuse and Underbrush

[Amended 8-28-2023 by Ord. No. 3663-23]

§ 89-85 Removal required after notice.

Any owner or owners, occupant or occupants of any lot or tract of land shall remove all grass and weeds and refuse and underbrush in such lot or tract of land within 10 days after notice to cut and remove the same has been given to said owner or owners, occupant or occupants by the Health Official or the Property Maintenance Official of the Borough of Rutherford. No grass shall be higher than 10 inches.

§ 89-86 Service of notice.

The notices mentioned in § 89-85 of this article shall be given by delivering to the owner or owners, occupant or occupants of said lots or tracts of land, written demands for the removal of all grass and weeds and refuse and underbrush therefrom, or by leaving the same at the residences of said owner or owners, occupant or occupants, with a member of the family above the age of 14 years or, in case the owner or owners are nonresidents, by mailing the same to the owner or owners at his or their last known post office address, postage prepaid.

§ 89-87 Violations and penalties.

Any person or persons, firm or corporation violating any of the provisions of this article shall, upon conviction thereof, pay a penalty of not less than $100 per day and no more than $500 per day for each offense. Each day which any violation hereof shall continue after the termination of the period stated in the notice provided for in this article shall constitute a separate violation.

§ 89-88 Provision for removal by Board or the Property Maintenance Official.

If such grass and weeds and refuse and underbrush shall not be removed as provided for in this article, the same may be cut and removed by and under the direction of the Board of Health or the Property Maintenance Official, and the cost thereof as nearly as can be ascertained, shall be certified to the Mayor and Council of the Borough of Rutherford and shall thereupon become and be a first and paramount lien upon such premises and shall be added to and recorded and collected with and in the same manner as the taxes next to be assessed and levied upon such premises.

§ 89-89 Disposition of revenue.

The imposition and collection of the fine imposed for the violation of this article shall not bar the right of the Borough of Rutherford to collect the cost of cutting and removing said grass and weeds, but the remedy shall be cumulative.