Bridgewater Affordable Housing

Bridgewater Township has maintained a successful affordable housing program for many years, supporting the development of over 1,400 affordable units across a variety of housing types, including single family homes, multi-family rentals, and special needs units. There are two primary components of this program – affordable housing units for sale or rent, and a housing rehabilitation program. Township funding for affordable housing units come from development fees collected by the Affordable Housing Trust Fund.

RENTING OR BUYING AN AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNIT IN BRIDGEWATER

There are numerous affordable for-sale and rental properties within the municipality.  Click here to apply to rent an affordable housing unit in Bridgewater, or click here to apply to buy an affordable housing unit in Bridgewater. 

Bridgewater Township Housing Rehabilitation Program Application

What is it all about?

The Township of Bridgewater Housing Rehabilitation Program is designed to assist eligible residents with funding for major and minor housing rehabilitation to their principal place of residence.

This brochure provides a brief description of eligibility criteria, the application process and procedures.

So How Does the Program Help?

The program is designed to provide assistance based on the Program Building Inspector’s determination of what eligible items are needed and does not guarantee the maximum assistance.

If eligible, a 100% property rehabilitation Deferred Loan will be made available on a First Come, First Served basis.  A lien will be placed on your home and recorded with your property deed. This Loan (not to exceed $24,000) shall be forgiven ten (10) years from the date it is recorded at the County.  During the ten (10) years, if you should transfer title or rent to someone for any reason, you, your heirs, executors or representative, must notify the Township and repayment must be made within thirty (30) days.

Who is Eligible?

• The applicant must be a resident of Bridgewater Township.
• The applicant must be the owner of the property and the property must be the principal place of residence.
• The Building cannot contain more than one (1) rental units and the principal unit must be owner occupied. All rent received must be declared as income by the applicant.
• The annual GROSS income (amount prior to taxes) of all persons residing in the applicant’s household must not exceed the maximum income level established by State Guidelines. These limits are subject to change annually.
• Property taxes must be current.
• The building must not be utilized for any purpose other than residential use.

Find the number of persons residing in the household to obtain the maximum income allowed. Subject to change without notice. For Households over 8 call Rehabco at 732-477-7750.

ELIGIBLE Rehabilitation and Improvements are:

Major Repairs or Replacements:

• Roof
• Heating System (includes hot water heater)
• Plumbing (includes wells, sewer, and water connections)
• Electrical
• Sanitary Plumbing (including septic systems)
• Weatherization to reduce energy consumption
• Load Bearing structural damage
• Handicap facilities (documentation required)
• Stove (ONLY when a safety hazard exists)

Minor Repairs or Replacements:

• Minor painting
• Masonry
• Gutters and leaders
• Drywall and flooring
• Fixtures
• Minor Carpentry
• Repair Driveways and sidewalks

INELIGIBLE Rehabilitation and Improvements are:

• Custom Painting
• Cosmetic Luxury Fixtures
• Purchase of appliances not required by local code
• Acquisition of land
• Landscaping
• Custom tile
• Retention walls

Next Steps:

If after reading this site, you believe you are eligible for assistance, the first step is to completely fill out and return the Application along with all the documentation requested.  Incomplete applications and/or missing documents will result in delaying your eligibility.

Applications are logged in order of the date a complete application is reviewed and approved and will be served on a First Come, First Served basis.

If your application has been on file for more than six (6) months when it reaches the top of the Application Logbook, your eligibility must be re-verified based on the requirements at the present time.  If determined eligible, an appointment will be scheduled for an electrical inspection and a property inspection.  You, or an adult representative, MUST be present for both inspections.  A Work Write-Up for rehabilitation work will be prepared based upon the results of these inspections.  A copy of the Work Write-Up will be forwarded to you for your review and comments.

The Program Building Inspector and the Homeowner will monitor the construction work in order to determine compliance with the Rehabilitation Contract.  All work must be approved by the applicable Borough Inspectors as well as the Program Inspector prior to the contractor receiving payment.

Have any Questions?

If you require assistance in completing the related forms or need answers to any questions, please contact the Program Staff at:

44 East Water Street, Toms River NJ 08753

Phone:  732-477-7750

Fax:  732-920-9649

Email: rehabco@aol.com

Website:  rehabconj.com

AFFORDABLE HOUSING RESOURCES

• MIDPOINT REVIEW & 2020 Annual Unit, Trust Fund, and VLI Monitoring 
• HOUSING ELEMENT AND FAIR SHARE PLAN 
• Affordable Housing Ordinance
• JUDGMENT OF COMPLIANCE AND REPOSE 
• SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT WITH FAIR SHARE HOUSING 
• FAIR SHARE HOUSING CENTER AND GENERAL HISTORY OF MT. LAUREL LITIGATION

BRIDGEWATER YARD WASTE SITE

136 Foothill Road, Bridgewater, NJ

On-Site Phone Number:  732-469-1500

Public Works Phone Number:  908-725-6300 x6000

2024 SCHEDULE AND HOURS OF OPERATION

Winter Operating Hours: 

January 15^th through March 15^th

Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., weather permitting.

Closed Saturdays and Sundays.

Normal Operating Hours: 

January 2^nd through January 13^th and March 16^th through December 31^st

Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. through 3:45 p.m., weather permitting.

Saturdays from 8:00 a.m. through 1:30 p.m., weather permitting. Closed Sundays.

Holiday Closures:

New Year’s Day – January 1

Martin Luther King Day – January 15

Memorial Day – May 27

Independence Day – July 4

Labor Day – August 31 & September 2

Thanksgiving – November 28-30

Christmas – December 25

New Year’s Day – January 1, 2025

Acceptable Items:

The Yard Waste Site is ONLY for the disposal of Brush, Leaves, Grass, Woodchips, and Logs. Logs must be 12 inches or less in diameter and three feet or less in length. Tree Stumps are not allowed.

Purchase of Topsoil and Mulch:

Topsoil and Mulch (hardwood, brown, black, red) are available for purchase at a fee payable to the site operator. Contact the site for pricing information.  

General Information:

• Drop-off services are free to Bridgewater residents.

• All residents must stop at the office trailer and show proof of residency prior to dumping.

• Contractors and commercial operators may use the site to drop off material from Bridgewater residents; however, there will be a fee for this service payable by the contractors. Contact the site at 732-469-1500 for pricing information.

• Residents will be allowed one commercial or rental vehicle (6 cubic yards max) to drop off yard waste for free twice a year, with a permit available from the Superintendent of Public Works. Permits must be picked up in person by Residents at the Public Works Building, 411 Chimney Rock Road, Building A, Bound Brook. When obtaining a permit, the resident must bring the name of the landscaper/contractor, their business address, the make and model of the vehicle being used, and the vehicle’s license plate number. Residents must also show proof of residency when picking up their permit. Additionally, residents MUST accompany contractor to Yard Waste Site when dropping off yard waste.

Thank you for your understanding and cooperation in helping the Township continue to offer this service in the most efficient manner with the lowest cost possible.  For more information, please contact the Public Works Department from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 908-725-6300 ext. 6000 or email publicworks@bridgewaternj.gov. 

LEAF BAG CURB-SIDE COLLECTION PROGRAM

The Township has concluded distribution and pick-up of Fall Leaf Bags for the season. Residents may continue to drop-off their leaf bags at the Township’s Yard Waste Facility located at 136 Foothill Road near the Costco shopping center.

Their winter hours through March 15, 2024, will be Monday-Friday 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., weather permitting. The facility will be closed on Saturdays. Beginning March 16^th, the facility will go back to its normal hours of Monday-Friday 7:30 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. and Saturdays from 8:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. You must stop at the trailer upon entering the facility to show proof of Bridgewater residency.

Leaf bag distribution will resume again in October 2024, and leaf bag pick-up will begin on November 1, 2024.

If you have any questions, please call (908) 725-6300 extension 6000 or email publicworks@bridgewaternj.gov.

The Division of Public Works is comprised of five (5) Departments; Road, Sewer, Building and Grounds, Parks and Fleet Maintenance.

It is the mission of Bridgewater Public Works to provide:

• Effective street maintenance
• Storm and sanitary sewer management
• Environmentally responsible drainage
• Yard waste management
• Accessible secure and properly maintained buildings
• Clean and safe parks
• Maintenance of entire fleet of Township vehicles and equipment

Functions of Public Works include but are not limited to the following:

Repair of potholes, patching of roads, sweeping of streets, repair of inlets and catch basins, maintenance of street and traffic signs and removal of dead deer from roads. Maintenance of sanitary sewer main lines, cleaning of flow channels and catch basins/inlets. Ground maintenance in parks, properties and facilities and maintenance/repair of all Township owned vehicles and equipment.

Take note of our address and phone number:

411 Chimney Rock Rd.
Building A
Bound Brook, NJ 08805
908-725-6300 Ext. 6000

Mailing Address:

100 Commons Way
Bridgewater, NJ 08807

If you have any questions please call (908) 725-6300 extension 6000 or email publicworks@bridgewaternj.gov

For any questions relating to sewer bills, please contact our Tax Collector’s office at (908) 725 – 6300 x5145 or taxcollector@bridgewaternj.gov.

No curbside pickup is available from the Public Works Division.

Dead Deer Pickup

Bridgewater Township contracts with a service to remove dead deer from resident’s living spaces on their property or Township roadways.   Once the contractor is notified, they have 48 business hours to remove the deer.  Our policy for removal of deer only apply to areas considered part of the living space for residents such as yards or gardens.  An animal that is deceased in the woods or natural areas is left to decompose naturally.  This is beneficial for the ecosystem as it provides nutrients for the soil and food for other wildlife. This also helps us to manage costs effectively, as removing and disposing of deer in this type of setting would use taxpayer money for a non-essential removal.

Christmas Tree Drop Offs

Bridgewater Township will once again provide drop-off locations for real Christmas trees from December 26, 2023 through January 31, 2024. These locations are open seven days a week from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

• Ardmaer Park
• Chimney Rock Park
• Thomae Park
• Cedarbrook Park

Residents may also bring their Christmas trees to the Yard Waste Facility located at 136 Foothill Road. The facility will be open Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 3:45 p.m., weather permitting. Additionally, they are open Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.  Starting January 15^th, the hours will be Monday-Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. and closed on Saturdays until March 16^th.

Christmas Tree Recycling Guidelines

• All decorations, lights, wires, tinsel, and other objects should be removed from the tree prior to drop-off.
• Only natural trees will be accepted. Do not drop off wreaths, garland, or artificial trees.
• Group deliveries and trees from vendors will not be accepted.
• Trees should be piled neatly and as close together as possible at the drop-off location.

Somerset County is also offering two drop-off locations, which will be open seven days a week from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

• Colonial Park Gardens, located at 156 Mettlers Road, Parking Lot F, in Somerset (Franklin Township).
• North Branch Park, located at 355 Milltown Road, at the lighted baseball field, in Bridgewater.

If you have any questions, please call the Bridgewater Public Works Dept. at (908) 725-6300 extension 6000 or email publicworks@bridgewaternj.gov.

POTHOLES
If you should come across a pothole on a Bridgewater road, please report it to our Public Works Division by using our online form here or by calling (908)-725-6300 Ext. 6000 or sending an e-mail to publicworks@bridgewaternj.gov. Please give us the location of the pothole so that we can repair it immediately.

If the pothole is on a county road, call Somerset County at (908) 541-5021 or click on this link to complete an online roadway complaint inspection form.

If the pothole is on a state highway, call the New Jersey Department of Transportation at (609) 292-4347 or click on this link.

SENIOR BRUSH PICK-UP PROGRAM

Senior Brush Pick-Up is a program that offers brush pick-up to Bridgewater homeowners aged 65 or older. The program allows Bridgewater seniors to call the Department of Public Works (DPW) to schedule pick-up of sticks, twigs, branches, and small limbs. In order to be eligible for the program, the senior citizen must be the actual homeowner of the property. Proof of eligibility may be required. We will provide pick-up service on Thursdays, beginning March 28^th, and will conclude the last week in October. Please follow the guidelines listed below:

• Brush must be 5 feet or less in length.
• Logs and limbs must be 6 inches or less in diameter.
• Brush piles must be stacked neatly in one direction at the curb line.
• Friends, family, neighbors, and landscape contractors may not add to your brush pile.
• Brush can be placed in brown recyclable bags. Limit of 5 bags. Plastic bags are not acceptable.
• The brush pile may not be any larger than 7 feet in length, 5 feet in width, and 4 feet in height.
• Grass, mulch, leaves, dirt, roots, and stumps will not be collected.
• Tree contractors hired to remove storm debris and trees must remove the resultant debris.

This program is not intended for DPW to act as a tree removal service. If the above conditions are not met, the items cannot be picked up. Appointments are made on a first come, first serve basis. To make a reservation, please contact DPW at 908-725-6300 ext. 6000.

Please note that yard waste may also be dropped off at the Bridgewater Township Yard Waste Facility located at 136 Foothill Road.

This program is not intended for DPW to act as a tree removal service.  If the above conditions are not met, the items cannot be picked up.  Appointments are made on a first come, first serve basis.  To make a reservation, please contact DPW at (908) 725 – 6300 ext. 6000.

You can also drop off yard waste at the Bridgewater Township yard waste facility at 136 Foothill Road. 

For further information please click – https://www.bridgewaternj.gov/yard-waste/

LEAF BAG CURB-SIDE COLLECTION PROGRAM

Fall leaf bags can be picked up at the Department of Public Works located at 411 Chimney Rock Rd. Building A Bound Brook, NJ 08805 starting on October 1.  The hours of distribution will be from 8 AM – 3 PM, Monday through Friday until supplies run out.  Residents can only pickup for your household only.  Please bring identification to display when picking up bags. 

Only leaves should be placed in the bio-degradable paper bags.  Grass clippings, brush and other materials will not be picked up.

The bags are picked up continuously on a rotating basis Monday – Friday throughout the Township between November 1st and December 31st, weather permitting.  The curbside collection of leaf bags will end December 31^st.

Residents may continue to drop-off their leaf bags at the Township’s Yard Waste site located on 136 Foothill Road behind Costco. The Yard Waste site is open through the end of each year. Residents may bring all yard waste material to the Township’s Yard Waste Site.

If you have any questions, please call (908) 725-6300 extension 6000 or email  publicworks@bridgewaternj.gov.

SNOW PLOW OPERATIONS

The Public Works Division wants to remind residents that portable basketball hoops, street hockey goals, etc. must be removed from the roadways including cul-de-sacs for snow plow operations.  They should be far enough away from the curb or edge of pavement so that they will not hang over the edge.

During snow events, we request that cars be placed in driveways and off the street.  Trash cans and recycling containers should also be kept off the roadways as the plow driver may not see these obstacles or may go around those obstacles leaving these areas unplowed.  The Township will not be responsible for any damage to trash cans, recycling containers, basketball hoops, street hockey goals, etc. damaged during snow plow or salting operations.  It is the owner’s responsibility to have these items relocated or removed.

In general, the snow plow procedure during the storm is to clean the center of the roadway, to provide access to all roads in an area.  Once the storm is over the driver will then proceed to clear the roadway curb to curb (edge to edge of pavement) on each street in the area.  Depending on the rate of snowfall we may need to open the center of all the roadways in an area first, delaying the full width clearing to a later time in the snow event. If the roadway has not been cleaned curb to curb, be aware that the front of your driveway maybe covered with snow as the plows complete their work. Please be aware that major roads are plowed first before local residential streets and cul-de-sacs.

If you have any questions please call (908) 725-6300 ext. 6000.

SNOW REMOVAL (SIDEWALKS)

Owners or tenants of any land next to Township public streets must remove all snow and ice from sidewalks within 12 hours of daylight after snowfall has stopped. Snow should be kept on the owner’s property and not moved into the street so that traffic safety is not impacted. If the sidewalk is covered with ice that the owners or tenants cannot remove, the sidewalk must be thoroughly covered with sand, ashes or rock salt within 24 hours after the snowfall has stopped.

Snow that is not removed from sidewalks or ice that is not treated within the time provided above may be removed or treated by the Public Works Division at the homeowner’s expense.

CALL BEFORE YOU DIG

The federally mandated, national phone number, 811, helps prevent you from unintentionally hitting underground utility lines. Before you begin projects that involve digging, dial 811 to locate underground electric, gas or other utility lines. Digging without this information can cause power outages, and it’s extremely dangerous. Simply tell the 811 operator where you’re planning to dig and what type of work you will be doing, and your local utility companies will be notified. Within a few days, they will mark the location of underground lines.

Please call at least three days in advance to avoid unnecessary delays to your project. Know what’s below – Call before you dig!

 For more information, visit http://www.call811.com.