Recurring Violations.
Listed below are some of the violations that we commonly see:
Inoperable, Unlicensed, and Abandoned Vehicles on Private Property
• Within any residential-zoned district, inoperable vehicles may not be kept in open view. All non registered, inoperable and unisured vehicles must be in kept within a completely enclosed building.
Top of Page
Unkempt properties (occupied and vacant)
Condition of Private Property violations include but are not limited to:
• Accumulations of junk and debris such as paper, lumber, concrete rubble, household furnishings, appliances, dismantled machinery, tires or rusted metal of any kind on residential or commercial property. To discard these and other miscellaneous items, contact the Department of Public Works at (732) 531-5000 x 361 or 362 to get details to arrange for a special trash collection.
• Excessive growth of grass and weeds (10 inches or more in height)
• Shrubs, bushes, trees, etc encroaching onto the sidewalk, roadway, or other public right-of-ways. The surface of the right of way should be cleared upwards to ten (10) feet and low encroaching vegetation should be kept back to the property line
• Conditions that harbor or attract rodents
• Dead trees on private property that are a threat to the public right of way. Failure to comply could result in monetary fines and an assessment will be made against the property for the cost of bringing the premises into compliance.
Top of Page
Construction without Zoning Approval and Building Permits:
No building or structure may be erected, altered, or enlarged without first obtaining the necessary approval by the Zoning Office (732-531-5000 x357) and/or building permit(s) from Building Dept (732-531-5000 x348). This requirement pertains to most structures, including fences, sheds, decks, patios and accessory buildings.
No person shall permit, maintain, build, erect or construct any fence or wall, or permit, grow or maintain any hedge or row of trees that shall constitute a fence or wall that shall be higher than six feet, along the fence or property line of any premises bordering the streets, avenues, and highways of the Township of Ocean.
Top of Page
Illegal Occupancy:
No owner shall occupy or let to an occupant or occupants, nor shall any person or persons lease or occupy any vacant dwelling unit or lodging unit, except if the same is part of a motel or hotel, unless a certificate of occupancy certifies that the room, dwelling, apartment, or the like, is in compliance with all of the ordinances of the township and fit for human habitation, and is further in compliance with all Federal and State laws. The certificate of occupancy so issued shall apply only to the tenant for which it is issued. Dwelling shall mean a building occupied or intended to be occupied exclusively for residence purposes by one family or one housekeeping unit. The change of occupancy needs a Certificate of Occupancy inspection by the Housing Official and a Smoke/Carbon Monoxide Detector inspection by the Fire District Fire Marshal. The Housing Official's phone number is (732) 531-5000 x356. Fire District 1 Fire Marshal is Tim Smith and his office number is (732) 222-2624. Fire District 2 Fire Marshal is Tom Heage and his office number is (732) 988-0880.
Top of Page
Signs:
Signs shall be permitted only on private property and not on public property or public right of way, unless a permit is provided by the Zoning Official. All signs, residential and commercial, are regulated by the Zoning Ordinance and require prior approval and most require permits. Always check with the Zoning Office before installing or placing a sign by calling (732) 531-5000 x357.
Here are some of our most frequent complaints regarding sign violations. Violations of the sign ordinance are subject to immediate removal from public right of ways, monetary fines, and prosecution in Court.
Prohibited signs: Any moving sign or device to attract attention, whether or not any such device has written message content, of which all or any part moves by any means, including fluttering, rotating or otherwise moving devices, or set in motion by movement of the atmosphere including, but not limited to, pennants, propellers, discs, banners, balloons, etc.
Unlighted directional real estate “for rent” or “sale” signs, are not allowed unless it is on the property for sale/rent. Not more than one (1) sign for each lot for sale/rent shall be displayed.
No signs are allowed on utility poles or trees, nor on or adjacent to any other public lands such as school sites, recreations fields, parks, parkways, and median strips.
Signs placed on public lands contrary to the provisions of the Zoning Ordinance are subject to immediate removal.
Top of Page
Noise Control:
The following acts are declared to be loud, disturbing and unnecessary noise nuisances in violation of this section but said enumeration shall not be deemed to be exclusive, namely:
a. Radio, Phonograph, Instrument, Singing, Talking. The playing of any radio, phonograph or musical instrument, or singing and talking in such a manner or in such volume as to annoy or disturb the quiet, comfort or repose of persons within or outside of any dwelling, hotel or other type of residence, particularly during the hours between 11:00 p.m. and 8:00 a.m.
b. Animals and Birds. The owning, harboring or keeping of any animal or bird which has been causing or causes frequent or long continued noise which disturbs the comfort and repose of any person within the vicinity. Frequent or long continued noise means continually for ten minutes or intermittently for 30 minutes unless provoked.
c. Advertisement devices. The operation of any form of a sound-creating device, vocal or instrumental, human or mechanical or otherwise on the sidewalks, streets and highways or other public places of the township, for the purpose of attracting the attention of the public.
d. Horns and Signals. The sounding of any horn or signal device on any automobile or other vehicle while not in motion for any unnecessary or unreasonable period of time, except as a danger signal.
e. Muffler Exhaust. The generation of loud sound as a result of the discharge into the open air of the exhaust of any steam engine, stationary jet or internal combustion engine or motor vehicle, except through a properly functioning muffler or other device which will effectively prevent loud or explosive noises therefrom.
f. Construction. The excavation, grading, paving, erection, demolition, alteration or repair of any premises, street, building or structure from 7:00 p.m. on Friday until 8:00 a.m. Saturday, from 7:00 p.m. Saturday until 7:00 a.m. on Monday and on Mondays through Fridays from 7:00 p.m. until 7:00 a.m. Commercial construction shall not be allowed on Sundays at any time. Exceptions may be made if urgent necessity is in the interest of public health and safety and if the nature of the emergency will admit of the prior procurement of a permit, then only in accordance with a permit first obtained from the township manager or chief of police or their respective designees. These regulations shall also apply to the delivery, removal or emptying of construction dumpsters and roll-off containers.
g. Loading and Unloading. the creation of loud and excessive noise in connection with the loading or unloading of any vehicle or the opening or destruction of bales, boxes, crates and containers.
h. Interfering with Work in Institutions. The creation of excessive noise in or on the grounds of any school, church, synagogue, hospital, institution of learning, court, public building or place of public assembly, or on any street adjacent to such grounds, places or buildings, while the same are in use and which unreasonably interferes with the working of the institution or place or unduly annoys persons therein.
i. Tools and Equipment. The operation or use of any power lawn mower, chain saw, fence post driller, saw, grinder, drill, garden equipment, snow blowers, leaf blowers or the like, between the hours of 8:00 p.m. and 8:00 a.m.
j. Buses, Trucks or Tractors. Outdoor Concerts. Outdoor concerts except in accordance with permits first obtained therefore from the township council or their authorized designee.
k. Vehicle Noises. The use of an automobile, motorcycle or vehicle so out of repair or so loaded that it creates loud and unnecessary grating, grinding, rattling or other noise. The repairing, rebuilding, modifying or testing any motor vehicle or off-road vehicle in or near a residential district in such a manner as to cause the disturbance and repose of others. The unnecessary warming up or idling of buses, trucks or tractors and the unnecessary and repeated idling, acceleration and deceleration or starting and stopping of automobiles and motorcycles.
**NOTE: There are exceptions listed in the ordinance.
Top of Page
Grass Complaints
3-8 Removal of Grass, Weeds, Brush and Other Impediments.
3-8.1 Duties of Owners and Tenants.
No owner, tenant or occupant, or any agent, servant, representative or employee of such owner, lessee or occupant of any occupied or unoccupied lot or land, or part or parts thereof in the Township of Ocean, County of Monmouth, shall permit or maintain thereon:
a. Any brush, weeds, dead or dying trees, stumps, roots, obnoxious growths, filth, garbage, trash, debris or junk, or
b. For a period of more than one month any motor vehicle in non-operative condition, or
c. Refuse or debris resulting from construction activities or the demolishing of a building or buildings for a period of more than one month after construction or demolition activity has ceased at the subject property.
Top of Page