Cal. Civ. Code § 5:10-6.4
Maintenance of exterior
Operative Text
(a) The exterior of the premises and all structures thereon shall be kept free of all nuisances, insanitary conditions, and any hazards to the safety or health of occupants, pedestrians and other persons utilizing the premises, and any of the foregoing conditions shall be promptly removed and abated by the owner or operator. It shall be the duty of the owner or operator to keep the premises free of such conditions which include, but are not limited to the following: 1. Brush, weeds, broken glass, stumps, roots, obnoxious growths, filth, garbage, trash, refuse and debris; 2. Dead and dying trees and limbs or other natural growth which by reason of rotting or deteriorating conditions or storm damage constitute a hazard to persons in the vicinity thereof. Trees shall be kept pruned and trimmed to prevent such conditions; 3. Loose and overhanging objects and accumulations of ice and snow which by reason of location above ground level constitute a danger of falling on persons in the vicinity thereof; 4. Holes, excavations, breaks, projections, obstructions, litter, icy conditions, uncleared snow and excretion of pets and other animals on paths, walks, driveways, parking lots and parking areas and other parts of the premises. Holes and excavations shall be filled and repaired, walks and steps replaced and other conditions removed where necessary to eliminate hazards or insanitary conditions with reasonable dispatch upon their discovery; 5. Accumulations of water, vegetation or other matter which might serve as a source of food or as a harboring or breeding place for infestation; 6. Walks, courts and other paved areas shall be kept clean and free of litter, dirt, mud or other conditions hazardous to pedestrians. (b) All parts of the premises shall be so graded and, where necessary, provided with runoff drains and other means to carry off and dispose of surface waters in such a manner as to eliminate any recurrent or excessive accumulations of storm water on the premises, without causing excessive accumulations of water on adjoining properties: 1. Parts of the premises regularly used by occupants shall drain within one hour of the termination of any storm creating surface waters; 2. Other parts of the premises not covered under paragraph 1 of this subsection shall drain within six hours of the cessation of any such storm.
N.J.A.C. § 5:10-6.4 establishes that the exterior of a residential premises and all structures on it must be kept free of hazards, unsanitary conditions, and nuisances that could endanger occupants, pedestrians, or others using the property. The rule covers a broad range of conditions—from debris, dead trees, and ice accumulations to standing water and uncleared pet waste—and requires that such conditions be removed promptly once discovered. The provision also sets specific drainage standards, requiring that areas regularly used by occupants drain within one hour after a storm, and other areas within six hours.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under N.J.A.C. § 5:10-6.4, compliant property owners and operators routinely inspect exterior areas for debris, overgrown vegetation, hazardous tree limbs, ice, snow, and standing water, and address these conditions with reasonable dispatch upon discovery. Operators generally maintain grading and drainage infrastructure sufficient to meet the one-hour and six-hour post-storm drainage benchmarks specified in the rule. Keeping dated maintenance logs and inspection records is a common practice among operators seeking to demonstrate ongoing compliance with this exterior maintenance standard.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
N.J.A.C. § 5:10-6.4 gives occupants a basis to expect that the exterior of their premises—including walkways, driveways, and common outdoor areas—will be kept free of hazards such as debris, ice, standing water, and dangerous tree limbs. If an owner or operator fails to address such conditions, tenants may have grounds to raise the violation in housing court proceedings or file a complaint with the local municipal code enforcement office, which oversees compliance with New Jersey's Hotel and Multiple Dwelling Law. Tenant-rights organizations in New Jersey can help occupants understand the range of options available when exterior conditions at a property appear to fall short of what § 5:10-6.4 requires.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated November 3, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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