FAQs: Township of Lakewood

State allows 20 business days.

The Uniform Construction Code (UCC) makes it mandatory that when a Construction Official becomes aware that an owner or the owner's agent failed to obtain a required permit prior to commencing construction, the Construction Official shall issue a notice of violation/order to pay penalty to the owner of the property. The penalty can be up to $2000 and an additional $2000 for each week teh violation remains outstanding. The violation may lead to summons to appear in municipal court to enforce the payment of the penalty.

The purpose of the permit process is to protect the health, safety, welfare of the public. The Division of Inspections has the solemn responsibility to protect the current occupants of a building as well as all future occupants. The division does this by enforcing regulations and construction codes adopted by the State of New Jersey. The New Uniform Construction Code Act, and its regulations, is to provide a minimum standard for construction, while encouraging innovation and economy in construction, allow for the use of mondern technical methods, eliminate restrictive and unnecessary regulations that increase construction costs, and ensure adequate maintenance of structures.
A property owner benefits from the permit process. Your home or business is an investment. You protect the value of that investment when a construction project adheres to the minimum construction standards. Property insurers may not cover injuries, property damage, or lawsuits that occur if construction is undertaken without permits. Evidence that all permits were issued, inspections performed, and certificates issued, makes for a stronger defense in a court of law.

Call the Inspection Department and ask for David Drukaroff ext 5607.

Bulky trash collection of non-recyclables and bulky collection of recyclables (metal, wood and brush) will be picked up once a month, in accordance with the following schedule:

Area 1: 1st Wednesday of the month
Northwest corner bounded by Township Lines and railroad on east and Lake Carasaljo on the south.

Area 2: 2nd Wednesday of the month
Northeast corner bounded by railroad on the west and south branch of Metadaconk on the south.

Area 3: 3rd Wednesday of the month
Southwest section bounded by Lake Carasaljo on north and Route 9 and Massachussetts Ave. south of Cross Street on the east.

Area 4: 4th Wednesday of the month
Southwest section bounded by the south branch of the Metadaconk on the north and Route 9. Massachussetts Avenue south of Cross Street is on the west.

Please see the map for reference.

Residents placing bulky trash materials at the curbside must call Public Works no later than the day before. No pickup is made unless you call, whereupon your address is put on the list and you are told what date to put out your bulky trash for pickup. Bulky trash may be placed at the curb the Saturday before the scheduled pickup, not before.

If you notice a street light or public area light is out, please complete a report at JCP&Ls website

Holiday pickup schedule: If the holiday falls on Monday: Garbage and recycling will be picked up on Tuesday. Tuesday's garbage and recycling will be picked up on Wednesday.

If the holiday falls on Tuesday: Garbage and recycling will be picked up on Wednesday.

If the holiday falls on Thursday: Garbage and recycling will be picked up on the preceding Wednesday.

If the holiday falls on Friday: Thursday's garbage and recycling will be picked up on the preceding Wednesday, and Friday's garbage and recycling will be picked up on the preceding Thursday.

If a holiday falls out during a week in which there is supposed to be bulky garbage pickup, there will be no bulky collection that month.

The Lakewood Township observes the following holidays: New Years Day, Martin Luther King's Birthday, Lincoln's Birthday, Washington's Birthday, Good Friday, Memorial Day, July 4th, Labor Day, Columbus Day, Election Day, Veteran's Day, Thanksgiving Day, day after Thanksgiving, and Christmas Day.

Leaves should be raked to the street curbline, 10 feet from the storm drain. Leaves mixed with wood, brush, or dirt will not be picked up.

The pickup schedule is as follows:

West of Route 9:
First pickup: First two weeks of November
Second pickup: First two weeks of December

East of Route 9:
First pickup: Last two weeks of November
Second pickup: Last two weeks of December

To schedule a leaf pickup after December 31, please call the Department of Public Works at 732-905-3405.

No household waste or recyclables are to be placed at the curb before 5:00 pm the night before pickup, or after 7:00 am the day of pickup. Containers must be removed from the curb by 6:00 pm the same day of collection.

Please check the phone book for vendors that can properly dispose of these materials.

Note: construction demolition material cannot be picked up at the curb - you must make private arrangements for the disposal of such items.

Please contact the Northern Ocean County Recycling Center at 732-367-0802 for more information on how to recycle these items.

All metal items such as washers, dryers, water heaters, bicycles, refrigerators (doors off), etc. can be placed at the curb for the scheduled pickup.

Wood items such as tables, chairs, cabinets, etc. can be placed at the curb for the scheduled pickup.

You may recycle tires and car batteries. You may bring these items to Public Works, 1 America Avenue, from 7:00 am - 3:00 pm on weekdays, and from 9:00 am - 3:00 pm on Saturdays. There is a limit of 5 tires per household, from cars and small trucks and only dismounted and off the rim. Curbside pickup is not available for these items.

Yes, however you must cut branches and shrubbery into 4' to 6' lengths, maximum 3" in diameter for curbside pickup.

Tree stumps and logs will not be picked up - you must make private arrangements for the disposal of these items.

Yes, you can bring it to Public Works, 1 America Avenue. You may also call 732-905-3405 to schedule a curbside pickup for these items.

Yes, you can bring it to Public Works, 1 America Avenue. There is no curbside pickup for these items.

You may put the following into your Township-owned container marked "Recycling":
- Newspaper, cardboard, and mixed paper such as magazines, junk mail, office paper.
- All glass containers and plastic bottles
- Cans: tin, aluminum, aerosol
Please do not place plastic bags or chipboard in the recycling bin.

Please see the area map for reference.

Area 1: Monday
Northwest corner bounded by Township Lines and railroad on east and Lake Carasaljo on the south.

Area 2: Tuesday
Northeast corner bounded by railroad on the west and south branch of Metadaconk on the south.

Area 3: Thursday
Southwest section bounded by Lake Carasaljo on north and Route 9 and Massachussetts Ave. south of Cross Street on the east.

Area 4: Friday
Southwest section bounded by the south branch of the Metadaconk on the north and Route 9. Massachussetts Avenue south of Cross Street is on the west.

Currently births are filed within three weeks of the completion of the certificate by the hospital.

No. Vital records require the raised seal of the local office of vital records to be considered valid.

Registrars are not permitted to verify if a record exists, the applicant must submit a request and fully identify the record.

Yes. The person eligible can authorize another person on his or her behalf. To do so, a notarized letter from the eligible person must be submitted by the individual who is picking up the record, that person must complete an application and have acceptable ID.

You must first purchase a copy of your vital record from the State office of Vital Statistics; you must forward this document to the Division of Revenue, which issues the Apostille Seal. The telephone number is 609-292-9292.

No, you are not eligible. However, you can have the Life Insurance Company or Title Company request it. The request must be made on their agency letter head and include their acceptable forms of ID.

Same day service is offered in person, Monday through Friday between 9:00 and 4:30

New Jersey divorce decrees are available through the Superior Court of New Jersey Records Center. Call the records center at: 609-777-0092.

Since there are many unique circumstances to amending records, it is suggested you contact the office for detailed information.

Lakewood Township Registrar's Office, Monday thru Friday by appointment only. Appointments are scheduled from 9:00 am to 3:30 pm. Call 732-364-2500 ext. 5236.

Recommendation is to make an appointment at least four weeks before the ceremony. There is a mandated 72 hour waiting period from the time of application until you can use your license. Weekends are counted in the waiting period.

After the license is issued and picked up, it may be used in the state of New Jersey for (30) thirty days, after which time the license expires.

$28.00 fee
Proof of identity by presenting a driver's license, passport or state/federal/county ID
Proof of residency such as a driver's license, utility bill or bank statement (within 90 days), tax return or lease
A witness, 18 years of age or older
Social Security number

Requested documents, but not required:
A copy of your birth certificates to establish your parents'names and related birth information.
If you have been previously married, or in a civil union, please bring decree or annulment documents.
If your former spouse or partner is deceased, please bring the death certificate.

Blood tests are no longer required to obtain a marriage license in New Jersey.

The vital record is on file where the event occurred.

County and State resources which may be helpful include:
1. Ocean County Government: www.co.ocean.nj.us 732-244-2121
2. State of New Jersey: www.state.nj.us
3. NJ Business Action Center: www.state.nj.us/njbusiness 1-866-534-7789
4. NJ Economic Development Authority: www.njeda.com
5. NJ Dept of Environmental Protection: www.state.nj.us/dep

Lakewood's Industrial Park buildings are owned privately and managed by those owners or their agents.

The Lakewood Development Corporation employs Gerald Walsh, a licensed real estate agent, to assist businesses with location or expansion in Lakewood. This is a free service to our businesses. Mr. Walsh can be contacted at 732-364-2500 extension 5408.

Several other real estate agents have very active practices in Industrial Park space. A listing of those most active and known to the department follows:
1. Bennet Properties
2. Sudler Properties
3. Turton Real Estate
Any owner or broker wishing to be added to this list, please submit your contact information to this department through the contact section below.

Lakewood offers a number of incentives to relocating businesses and startup businesses. Our UEZ office and Dept. of Economic Development can help assess the package of benefits available to your particular business. Please submit an inquiry on this website or call the offices during regular business hours for a direct consultation.

The details and relevance to your home-buying opportunity will be examined and explained to you by your mortgage broker. For direct connection to the state agency managing this process, please see http://www.nj-hmfa.com or call 609-278-7400.

Please see Township Ordinances regarding Abatements and the process for filing a request. Requests which are properly filed will be reviewed by the Economic Development and Assessor departments and a recommendation made to the Township Committee. Forms may be requested from the Municipal Clerk (or downloaded from the Download Center).

Lakewood Township Emergency Medical Services does not solicit monies through mailings, fund drives or phone calls. Lakewood EMS is a municipal township service which is funded through the municipal tax base and offset through monies collected through insurances and other third party agencies. If you suspect you are being solicited for monies on behalf of the Lakewood Township EMS department, please contact the EMS Chief at 732-534-1835. Please obtain when possible the name of the organization soliciting on behalf of Lakewood Township EMS and/or any mailings or phone numbers you may be able to obtain during the solicitation.

Currently, the EMS department does not have a ride along program available. A goal to obtain in the future.

Yes, Lakewood Township EMS is a fee for service agency, which means the EMS Department collects insurance information from the patient and submits a bill on the behalf of the patient. Third Party billing is used to offset the expenses of a 24-hour EMS operation. The EMS staff during your care will ask for pertinent information specific to patient care and personal identification. (Name, Address, Date of Birth, Social Security, Medical History and medications). Upon completion of patient care, our team will ask the patient and/or family member to sign for consent of transport, billing authorization and understanding of the patient privacy policy. Patient billing occurs for any person transported to the hospital via Lakewood Township EMS. Lakewood Township EMS will not deny any person medical care or hold treatment in order to obtain insurance information and due to lack of insurance coverage. Patient care will always be the priority when a request for medical services is needed.

Every effort is made to collect the proper information at the time of care when EMS services are rendered. If you receive a letter from our billing agent, this is usually to advise you that we have billed the insurance company on your behalf, asking for more information specific to your insurance coverage or it may be a bill for services rendered to you or a family member.In the event you believe the information is incorrect or have a question in regards to the information received. Please call Revenue Guard at 732-525-1763.

The State of New Jersey oversees the EMT training program which identifies training centers authorized to teach the 580 hour E.M.T. Basic classroom and skills training course. The course syllabus includes, medical, traumatic, preparedness, medical-legal and hands on skills associated with each of the modules. Quizzes and tests throughout the course prepare the student for the required state of New Jersey Testing of knowledge and skills in order to obtain the three-year certification. Training courses in Ocean County are coordinated through Monmouth Ocean Hospital Services (MONOC) and are held at the Ocean County Fire and EMS academy in Waretown. Contact number is 732-919-3045 ext. 1402.

Lakewood Township is currently a Civil Service agency, any positions for full-time or per-diem employment would be posted on the NJ Department of Personnel website. www.njdop.org. To be considered for employment the candidate must be at minimum 18 years of age, possess a valid New Jersey certification as an Emergency Medical Technician or Paramedic, possess a valid certification in Cardio-pulmonary Resuscitation healthcare provider, Valid N.J. driver's License, Incident Command 100, 200, 700. Additional training requirements include - Hazardous materials awareness, CBRNE Awareness, Right to Know and Pre-hospital trauma Life Support or International Trauma Life Support. Must pass a physical screening, drug test and panel interview. Prefer a minimum of two years' experience as an EMT in a pre-hospital setting.

No, but you do need a Smoke Certificate. Contact Housing at x.5603 or download the form.

The owner or the agent on file should bring in the application, ID, a valid lease, and the $60 fee. If the owner resides outside of Ocean County, an agent must be assigned and the Owner's Affidavit must be signed and notarized in the state that the owner lives in.

Contact the official that issued the ticket or violation prior to the date of compliance, and they will be able to assist you in this matter.

Call 732-364-3760 and the extension of the inspector needed, or fax a request to 732-905-8112. Make sure block/lot, permit number, address and contact information is included on the request form.

Construction Permit must begin within one year of the permit issue date. Once the work begins, the permit expires if the work is abandoned for a period of more than six months.

The Uniform Construction Code allows a homeowner to prepare his or her own plans for construction, addition, reconstruction, alteration, renovation, or repair of a single family residence intended to be used exclusively as his or her private residence. For all other plans, including other residential uses and all non-residential work, the seal and signature of the registered architect or licensed engineer who prepares the plans shall be affixed to each sheet of each copy of the plans submitted. A contractor, property owner, or tenant cannot prepare plans for a rental property, multi family dwelling unit, a non-residential use, or any commercial business. Only a design professional (architect or engineer) may prepare plans for these uses. EXCEPTION: in a class III structure, a NJ Licensed Electrician or NJ Licensed Master Plumber may design and submit plans for electrical and plumbing installations.

Please take note that the court date mentioned on the summons is not a trial date, it is merely the date in which the summons must be answered, either by payment or a personal appearance in court. If a person has been charged with an offense to which he/she wishes to plead "not guilty" or wishes to speak to the municipal prosecutor, it is necessary to call the court to schedule a court date. Once you have notified the Court of your intent to plead not guilty you will be scheduled for "case management". You will be notified of the hearing date via regular mail, therefore, please make sure to advise the court of any address changes. When you appear in court for case management you will be able to speak to the prosecutor and he will advise you of a possible plea agreement. The prosecutor does not have to offer an agreement or if he/she does you do not have to accept it. If this occurs the Judge will then advise you of your rights and penalties that may be imposed for your violation and the case will be rescheduled for trial via mail. Please take note that on your trial date you should bring any witnesses or documentation that you will rely on to present your defense.

Defendants who reside out-of-state may request to defend themselves by affidavit. The defense by affidavit is used only for traffic and ordinance violations that do not carry penalties of great consequence. A telephone call to the court will be necessary to determine whether a person is able to dispose of the matter in this fashion.

Once a determination has been made that an affidavit is appropriate, the court will forward the necessary form to the defendant. The form is a simple form on which the defendant explains the circumstances surrounding the offense and returns the notarized document to the court prior to the scheduled court date. A person who uses this approach waives his/her right to appear in court and cross examine any witnesses. The judge will make his decision based on the information provided by the defendant and the complaining witness. The defendant will be notified by mail as to the Judge's ruling.

A warrant is an order by the Judge to law enforcement authorities to arrest an individual and bring him / her to court. Warrants are ordered when an individual fails to answer a summons by a given court date, if the person being charged presents a risk of flight, or failure to comply with a court order (i.e. payment of fines or conditions imposed as part of sentencing).

The bail amount is set by the judge when a warrant is ordered. The purpose of bail is not to punish but to insure a defendant's appearance in court for all scheduled appearances until the case is disposed. Bail can be posted by the accused or a surety (someone other than the accused who becomes responsible to insure the accused appears in court).

Bail can be posted in the form of cash, check, money order or bond. Other types of bail are ROR (Released on his/her Own Recognizance) or 10% bail option. These options do not have to be offered as the Judge Determines what is appropriate for each case. In addition, if a warrant is issued for failure to pay fines a Cash Purge (cash only) warrant will be issued. If a defendant fails to appear after bail has been posted the bail / bond will be forfeited and a new warrant will be issued.

At the disposition of the case, bail posted in the form of cash can be applied to penalties with the authorization of the surety. If the use of bail money is not authorized, the bail will be returned to the surety.

Defendants charged with offenses that carry potential penalties of consequence may wish to be represented by an attorney. If a person feels they cannot afford one but would like to have legal representation. An application for indigency must be completed and presented to the Judge for review. The judge will determine if a person is eligible based on guidelines established by the state. An application fee of $0 - $200 will be assessed if the application is granted.

Fines may be paid by cash, money order, personal check or credit cards (Visa or MasterCard only). When fines are assessed in court, depending on the amount of the fines and your financial situation, installment payments can be arrangement. If an installment plan is approved, an initial payment or good faith payment is recommended.

The municipal prosecutor represents the State usually on complaints that are issued by law enforcement officers. Persons wishing to speak with the Prosecutor must contact the Court first to be given a scheduled court date.

In the case of citizen complaints, the municipal prosecutor only represents the citizen complainant when the named defendant is represented by an attorney.

All summonses, whether traffic, criminal or ordinance violations must be answered either by payment or a personal appearance in court. If a person fails to respond by the date shown on the summons, the court must take further action.

If the violation charged is payable a failure to appear notice is sent to the defendant. An additional $10.00 penalty is assessed and the defendant is warned that a warrant will be issued and driving privileges will be suspended in New Jersey and most other states if payment is not received by the date shown on the notice.

If the violation charged requires a personal appearance in the court and the defendant fails to appear, the judge will order that a warrant for arrest be issued and a bail amount will be assessed.

Currently there are two forms of site plan approvals for schools. Change of Use-if a site is currently being utilized for anything other than a school and the applicant proposes to construct a school, an abbreviated change of use site plan applies. The submission requirements are less, however the applicant is required to notify all owners of property within 200 feet of the site. In this case only one meeting of the planning board is required. Formal Site Plan-If a site is currently vacant and the applicant proposes to construct a school, a formal preliminary & final site plan applies. The applicant is required to notify all owners within 200 feet of the site. In this case, two meetings of the planning board are required. (A plan review meeting and a public hearing)

A development plan which shows topography, location of all buildings (typically commercial schools/house of worship) structures, roads, rights of way boundaries, etc.

A subdivision of land for the creation of 4 lots or less.

Any subdivision of land creating more than 4 lots.

Permission to depart from the literal requirements of a zoning ordinance.

A set of regulations and requirements that govern use, placement, spacing and size of buildings and lots within a specific area.

A law adopted by a municipal body.

An official document, authorized by a Planning Board vote, specifying approval or denial of a development proposal.

A relaxation of a development standard.

Similar to a site plan as described above, but typically for residential use on a single lot

A plan prepared by a licensed surveyor that shows the location and elevations of the improvements constructed. The plan is then reviewed to determine if the improvements were constructed in accordance with the approved plan.

Forms are available at the Police Department's Administrative Services Division. The application must be completed, certified by a medical doctor, podiatrist or chiropractor, and then approved by the Chief of Police. There is a $4.00 fee payable by check or money order to the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission. Cash cannot be accepted.

Should you feel there is an error on the police report, contact the police department at 732.363.0200 extension 5360 and ask the Watch Commander to leave a message for the investigating officer to return your call.

Please contact our Traffic/Safety Office at (732) 363-0200 extension 5383.

The police department will fax or email an accident report upon written request.

Accident reports may be obtained at the Records Division of the Police Department from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday to Friday with exception of holidays.

The fee for an accident report is .05 cents.

The registered owner may retrieve personal effects such as insurance, registration, medication, computer equipment, tools, and miscellaneous items. The owner must present identification and proof of ownership to the towing company.

Expired Insurance
- Contact a New Jersey approved insurance company for basic coverage.
- OBTAIN a temporary insurance card from the company.
- Bring the temporary insurance card with you to Police Records
Expired Registration
- Visit your local MVC and renew the registration.
- Bring the valid registration with you to Police Records.

You may contact the Watch Commander or the Office of the Chief of Police at the main Department number (732) 363-0200 extension 5360

You may download and complete a "Citizens Complaint and Information" form from the download center (above). The form may be returned to the Police Department at the Watch Commander' s Office or mailed to the attention of the Chief of Police.

You will be notified annually on or before February 1st of the tax year of the assessed value of your property. The annual notice is in the form of a post card mailed to the address of record. The notices includes a land, building and total assessment for administrative purposes as well as prior year�s annual taxes exclusive of interest, penalties and/or added assessments. You should not use this notice for federal and state income tax purposes.

There are periodic assessed value changes that are made annually on a neighborhood-wide basis. Recent legislation requires submission of a plan and subsequent approvals from the County Board of Taxation and the State Division of Taxation as well as notice to the municipality prior to implementing these changes. These changes are necessary in order to maintain acceptable levels of assessments within the municipality. Since the Assessor�s Office is clearly responsible with maintaining assessments as close as possible to full and fair market value, annual changes in assessments must be made to adjust for value changes experienced in area neighborhoods.

After you have received your annual tax assessment notice and have had the opportunity to compare your assessment to the market value of your property, you will have an educated idea of the fairness of your assessment. If you have specific questions in this regard, please feel free to contact this office weekdays between 8:30 A.M. and 4:30 P.M. to schedule an appointment for further review. If after review you are not satisfied that the assessed value of your property reflects a lawful relationship to market value, you may wish to file a formal tax appeal. You must contact the Ocean County Tax Board at the address and phone number on the reverse of your Tax Assessment Notice.

The filing deadline is April 1st of the tax year at issue. Filed means received at the offices of the Ocean County Tax Board, Washington Street, Courthouse, Toms River, New Jersey.

There are a wide variety of tax exemption and tax deduction statutes. Some examples are Senior Citizen Deduction, Disability Deduction, Certain Surviving Spouse Deduction, Veteran and Surviving Spouse of Veteran or Serviceperson Deduction, Disabled Veteran and Surviving Spouse of Disabled Veteran or Serviceperson Exemption. See the download center above for forms and qualifications for each of these deductions.

A review of some common misconceptions in this regard will assist you in your decision to proceed:
1. Land and building assessments cannot be appealed separately
2. Property taxes are not an issue during an appeal since the Assessor�s Office and County Tax Board has no control over the budgets submitted by the Municipality, County and/or school systems.
3. The municipality cannot accept for filing a petition intended for the County Tax Board.
4. The filing deadline is April 1st of the tax year at issue. Filed means received at the offices of the Ocean County Tax Board, Washington Street, Courthouse, Toms River, New Jersey.
5. Comparable assessments of other properties are not acceptable as evidence of the value of your property
6. Assessments cannot be avoided by the failure or refusal to obtain a certificate of occupancy from the Construction Department
7. Payment of the first quarter real estate taxes and municipal charges (water, sewer, etc.) are a pre-condition to the satisfactory completion of the appeal process

The Tax Assessor's office is responsible for records of ownership. All name and address changes for tax records must be made through their office. Property ownership changes are also made by the Tax Assessor when the Ocean County Clerk's office forwards new deed information. The Tax Collector's office receives all ownership information from the Tax Assessor's records.
Click here to visit the Tax Assessor's section of the website.

Your tax bill is based on the assessed value of your property. You pay taxes for every $100.00 in assessed value. The 2010 tax rate for Lakewood Township is 2.308 for every $100.00 of assessed value. To figure out the taxes on a piece of property with a total assessment of $233,778.08 (the average assessment for a residential property in Lakewood Township in 2011) you would divide $233,788.08 by 100 ($2,337.88) and multiply that figure by the tax rate, 2.308 in 2010, the 2011 rate has not yet been struck ($2,337.88 x 2.308 = $5,395.83). In 2010, 16.50% of your taxes were forwarded to Ocean County, 50.13% was forwarded to the school district, 2.47% went to the Fire District and 29.72% was used to fund Lakewood Township. 1.18% of the budget was funded with State Aid. The elected officials of Lakewood Township only have control over the municipal budget and do not have total control over all of the budgets that can cause your tax rate to go up or down. If you feel that the assessed value of your property is not accurate you may file an appeal with the Tax Assessor's office; the Tax Assessor is responsible for determining the assessed value of all property in Lakewood Township. The amount of your tax of your tax bill is controlled by the assessed value of the property and the tax rates for each government unit.

The reason the tax rate is not known at the beginning of each calendar year is because each unit must establish their budget so we know how much to collect. The Board of Chosen Freeholders is responsible for the Ocean County budget, the Mayor and Township Committee determine the municipal budget and the Lakewood Township Board of Education develops the school district budget. Registered voters are responsible for voting on the school district budget in April each year. The earliest that the total tax rate is known in any municipality is usually some time in June. Municipalities that apply for state aid have to wait until after the state budget is adopted, by June 30, to strike a tax rate.

The Tax Collector is required by state law to hold a tax sale each year for the prior year's unpaid municipal charges. Municipal charges includes, but is not limited to, water, sewer, maintenance liens and taxes. Your property is not sold at the tax sale; a lien is placed on it. The lienholder pays the debt owed to the municipality by the assessed owner of the property in return for a guaranteed interest rate on the amount paid when the lien is redeemed. The tax sale certificate that is issued is the detailed receipt of what the lienholder purchased at the tax sale; most lienholders record their liens at the Ocean County Clerk's Office to insure redemption of the lien if the property is sold. Clear title cannot be issued for a property with recorded liens on it. At the tax sale most liens are sold to a third party, on occasion there is not a third party interested in purchasing the lien and the lien is struck off to the municipality. If a lien is held by Lakewood Township we may begin foreclosure proceedings six months from the date of the tax sale if the lien has not been redeemed. If a lien is purchased by a third party they have a right to begin foreclosure proceedings two years from the date of the tax sale. The lienholder also has the right to pay any municipal charges that are billed to the property, once they are delinquent, and add them to the lien balance. Liens must be redeemed in full with guaranteed funds.

Assessed owners of property are ultimately responsible for their municipal charges even if you are escrowing for taxes through your mortgage company. New Jersey state law is quite clear; you do not need to be in receipt of a bill to be responsible for paying it.

All funds for tax relief are provided by the State of New Jersey. You receive applications for each program, other than deductions and exemptions, from the State of New Jersey. The applications for Senior Citizen, Disabled Person and Veterans Deductions are available in the Tax Assessor's office. You also get the application for Totally Disabled Veteran Property Tax Exemption in the Tax Assessor's office. Listed below are the contact phone numbers for the property tax relief programs currently available:

Property Tax Reimbursement (aka Tax Freeze) - 800-882-6597
Homestead Rebate - 888-238-1233
Property Tax Deductions and Exemptions - 732-364-2500 x5276

Taxes are paid quarterly; the first two quarters add up to half of what was billed on the property the prior year and the third and fourth quarter are based on the actual tax rate. If taxes go up, the third and fourth quarter are generally larger than first and second quarter; if taxes go down, the third and fourth quarters are smaller than the first and second. Tax bills are mailed once a year, during the summer, and contain four coupons. Taxes are due February 1, May 1, August 1 and November 1. Lakewood Township has a 10 day grace period, the due date is still the 1st, but if we receive your payment by the 10th no interest will be charged. If your payment is received after the 10th you will be charged interest based on the number of days between the 1st and the day your payment is received. Postmark is not used to count the days; we are required by law to count from the day that your payment is received in our office. Your cancelled check is your receipt for payment of taxes. If you want to have your bill stamped paid you must bring it with you to the office, or mail it to us with your check payment and a self addressed stamped envelope. Your cancelled check is your receipt and you will be required to provide a copy of it if there is a payment discrepancy.

Interest is charged on delinquent balances. State law allows for interest to be charged at a rate of 8% on the first $1,500.00 of delinquency and 18% on every dollar over $1,500.00. Once your delinquency has exceeded $1,500.00 you will pay 18% interest on any remaining delinquency until your account is current. That means that if your tax bill for the first and second quarter is $800.00 and you make a payment on June 1 of $800.00 your account is still considered delinquent and will continue to accrue 18% interest daily until you pay the remaining balance. Your account is considered current if you have paid all prior bills before the next quarter is due, in this example, August 1.

You will be charged a 6% year end penalty if your open and past due principal and interest charges as of December 31 total more than $10,000.00. The 6% year end penalty will be added to the total principal and interest due on December 31 and that total balance will accrue interest at a rate of 18% from January 1 until is it paid.

OPRA is a State statute that replaces the old "Right to Know Law" which governs the public's access to government records in New Jersey. OPRA was enacted to give the public greater access to records maintained by public agencies in New Jersey by balancing the public's interest in government records, respect for personal privacy, and the efficient process of government. The law is compiled in the statutes as N.J.S.A. 47:1A-1 et seq.

Visit www.state.nj.us, Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control, to find out more information about obtaining a liquor license. The Liquor License Application can be found in the Download Center above.

Application for a raffle or bingo license can be downloaded from the Download Center above.

Call the Northern Ocean County Resource Center at 732-370-8850

You must fill out a business license application and pay a non-refundable fee of $215.00 (cash, money order, or check). Fee for veterans is $1.00, proof of Veteran status required. You can get more detailed instructions by downloading the application.

See the instructions and form to apply for a dog license.

1. Need letter to Board of Transportation for approval. (Location of business, how many cars, name, address, etc.)
2.Copy of Certification of Occupancy for business place.
3.Proof of insurance: $100,000/claims for damages/by reason of bodily injury or death of any one person. $50,000 to satisfy any claim for damages to property.
4.Purchase price for medallions. Fee: each one is $1,000, and annual renewal fee of $200 for each cab is due by Sept. 30.
5. Copy of car registration.
6. Select a color for the taxi company (put it in writing). Colors taken already: yellow, white/light blue, maroon.
7. Company will get medallion papers and two certificate cards: one for Motor Vehicles and one for the car, after it has been inspected and given the approval by the compliance officer.

Please keep a copy of the Taxi Ordinance for any information that you need to be clarified. For further assistance, please call our office at 732-364-2500 x.5231.

The Township Clerk's email address is: twpclerk@lakewoodtwpnj.org

Please see the "Business Incentives that Work For You" sheet in the download center above for more information. Also in the download center, you will find directions for certifying and the link to the state website.

A foreign-trade zone is a designated location in the United States, such as Lakewood, where companies can use special procedures that help encourage U.S. activity and value added, in competition with foreign alternatives, by allowing delayed or reduced duty payments on foreign merchandise, as well as other savings.

To learn more, please contact us at 732-364-2500 x.5395.

For information on how to start a business, click here

Check this website periodically, enroll in the UEZ Updates request on this page or email us at pkomsa@lakewoodnj.gov to request to be on our email list to receive monthly updates.

The Business and Industry Expo is usually held each July. The 2012 date will be announced on or about March 15th.Call us at 732-364-2500 x.5257 or email pkomsa@lakewoodtwpnj.org.

The basic zoning permit fee is $25.00. This fee would be in addition to any construction permit fees.

Call our office and we will advise you of the zone in which your property is located.

A completed zoning permit application, a copy of the survey with an indication of where the work is going to be done, and the setbacks to the property line. An application fee is also required.

No permit is required.

Yes, you need a permit for any shed size.

Yes, you need a permit for all fencing.

Frequently Asked Questions

Code Enforcement

• How long does a permit take?

• What if I do not get a permit?

• Why do I need a construction permit? How does getting a permit benefit me?

• How can I be sure the Inspection Department has an updated address?

Department of Public Works

• How does bulky trash pickup work?

• Where can I report a streetlight outage?

• What day should I put out my garbage/recycling if there's a holiday?

• On which holidays is there no garbage pickup?

• Where should I place the leaves for pickup?

• When are leaves picked up?

• Can I place my bins at the curb the day before pickup?

• Can I recycle concrete, bricks, or cinder blocks?

• Can I recycle paint cans, chemicals, motor oil or hazardous material?

• Can I recycle metal objects?

• Can I recycle furniture or other wood products?

• Can I recycle car parts?

• Can I recycle tree branches and shrubbery?

• Can I recycle computers and electronics?

• Can I recycle clothing, hand bags, belts and shoes?

• What items can I put in my yellow recycling container?

• What is the recycling and garbage pickup schedule?

Department of Vital Statistics

• How long after a birth occurs is it filed with the office of vital statistics?

• Can vital records be faxed?

• Can I call the registrar to verify if a record exists?

• Can a person who is eligible to receive certified copies designate someone to obtain a vital record for them?

• How do I obtain an Apostille Seal?

• If I am listed as a beneficiary on a life insurance policy, or have joint ownership of property, but not related to the deceased, can I obtain a certified copy of the death record?

• What is the quickest way to obtain a certified copy of a vital record?

• Where do I obtain a divorce decree?

• What is the procedure to correct information on a vital record?

• Where do I apply for a marriage or civil union license?

• When do I apply for a marriage or civil union license?

• What are the application requirements to obtain a marriage or civil union license?

• Is a vital record on file where I live or where the event occurred?

Economic Development

• Who can I speak to about assistance with land development or other large scale project issues?

• What opportunities are there in the Industrial Park for lease or purchase of commercial space?

• What incentives can I get for moving a business to Lakewood?

• LWYW - How do I find out more about the Live Where You Work program and how I can use it?

• How can I qualify and apply for tax abatement on my new building?

Emergency Medical Services

• How do I send in a donation?

• Does the EMS department have a Ride Along Program

• Do I receive a bill, if I am transported to the Hospital?

• Who do I call if I have a question in regards to a bill received?

• How do I become an EMT?

• How can I obtain a career in the EMS department at Lakewood?

Inspections / Construction

• Do I need a Certificate of Occupancy when selling my home?

• What do I need to bring in to apply for a Rental Certificate of Occupancy?

• What should I do if I receive an inspection ticket or violation in the mail?

• How do I schedule an inspection?

• How long is my permit good for?

• Can I prepare my own plans?

Municipal Court

• Is a court date a trial date?

• What is warrant and bail?

• What if I cannot afford an attorney?

• What are the methods of payment?

• How do I contact the prosecutor?

• What if I fail to appear in court?

Planning / Engineering

• Change of Use v. Formal Site Plan

• What is a site plan?

• What is a minor subdivision?

• What is a major subdivision?

• What is a variance?

• What is zoning?

• What is an ordinance?

• What is a resolution?

• What is a waiver?

• What is a plot plan?

• What is an as built?

Police Department

• How do I apply for a temporary handicap placard?

• Who do I contact if I feel there is an error in a police report?