Full Notification

Beginning April 15, 2025, a new regulation in the New Jersey Fire Code will restrict the use of combustible landscaping mulch near buildings and structures. This update, which applies to all commercial and rental properties, is designed to reduce the risk of mulch-related fires, which occur frequently under certain conditions.

Under the new regulation, wood-based mulch and other combustible landscape materials are prohibited in the following areas:

-Within 18 inches of any building or structure
-Within 18 inches of a deck, porch, balcony, or any other combustible      building component
-Within 18 inches of designated smoking areas, as defined in the 2018
  New Jersey Edition of the International Fire Code (Section 310.2)

Exceptions to the new rule include:
- Live plant material such as shrubs, flowers, and trees, provided they are not under a combustible overhang with less than six feet of clearance
-Buildings and structures with non-combustible exteriors
-The use of fire-resistant mulch

Although this regulation only applies to commercial and rental properties, all property owners are encouraged to follow these guidelines to enhance fire safety. The Plainsboro Township Fire Department responds to multiple mulch fires each year, demonstrating the real danger posed by wood-based mulch in the wrong conditions.

For more information please visit: 
https://www.nj.gov/dca/news/news/2024/20241118.shtml#:~:text=The%20regulations%2C%20effective%20on%20April,is%20constructed%20of%20combustible%20material.