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1. What are the business hours of the Health Department?

The Department's normal hours of operation (Monday through Friday) are:

• Civil Union, Domestic Partnership and Marriage License Applications: 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. (by appointment only)
• Issuance of Birth, Death, Civil Union, Domestic Partnership and Marriage Transcripts: 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
• Telephone inquiries: 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

2. How can I obtain a 'Birth Transcript'?

A 'Birth Transcript' can be obtained by completing Birth Transcript Request Form (PDF) and submitting it with the appropriate identification and payment to the Health Department.

3. I was born in another town or state, how can I obtain my birth certificate?

All New Jersey vital records can be obtained via the state website, or out of state via Vital Check Network, Inc. at their website.

4. How can I obtain a 'Death Transcript'?

A 'Death Transcript' can be obtained by completing a Death Transcript Request Form (PDF) and submitting it with the appropriate identification and payment to the Health Department.

5. How can I obtain a 'Civil Union, Domestic Partnership, or Marriage Transcript'?

A Civil Union, Domestic Partnership, or Marriage Transcript can be obtained by completing a Civil Union / Domestic Partnership / Marriage Transcript Request Form (PDF) and submitting it with the appropriate identification and payment to the Health Department.

6. Who do I call to remove live wildlife from my property?

Because some wildlife is protected by law, you are advised to contact either the Bergen County Animal Shelter or a licensed wildlife specialist.

7. I saw rodents in the area of a residence (business, etc.). Whom should I call about this problem?

All public Health Nuisance complaints are handled by the Board of Health. Please call the Health Department at 201-664-7100, ext. 129 to file a complaint.

8. I am thinking about opening a restaurant in Westwood. What do I need to do?

You should speak first with the Westwood Building Department about the required building permits, etc. After the Building Department has approved your plan, it must also be approved by the Board of Health. In addition, before opening the restaurant, your facility must also be inspected and approved by the Health Department.

9. How do I know whether stored food is safe to eat?

For information on the safety of food stored in your pantry or refrigerator, and recalls issued by the Food and Drug Administration and United States Department of Agriculture, visit foodsafety.gov.

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1. How do I register to vote? What are the requirements?

The Borough Clerk's office has mail-in voter registration forms. In order to register to vote, you must be at least 17 years old (you cannot vote until you are 18 years old), and you must be a U.S. citizen or a naturalized citizen. For further information on elections, see the Bergen County website.

2. How do I obtain a vote by mail ballot?

The Borough Clerk's Office has applications for Vote by Mail ballots (formerly absentee ballots).

• The Vote by Mail ballot application must be received (not just postmarked) by the County Clerk no later than 7 days prior to any election. If this deadline is missed, the voter may go in person to Hackensack and vote by mail ballot at the County Clerk's office up until 3 p.m. the day before any election. If it is past that time, the voter will not be able to vote by mail. 
• The vote by mail ballot itself must be postmarked by Election Day and received by the Bergen County Board of Elections by the second day after an election. 

Please keep in mind that if the voter applies for a vote by mail ballot, the voter must vote by mail, even if his/her plans change and he/she is able to vote at the regular polling location. A voter will not be allowed to vote at his/her regular polling location once he/she has applied for a vote by mail ballot.

3. I have recently moved within Westwood, is my voter registration still valid?

No. You must register to vote again, with your new address. In addition, if you change your name due to marriage or divorce, you must register with your new name.

4. How often must I vote to keep my registration valid?

You must vote at least once in either a primary or general election every 5 years.

5. Where do I vote?

Search by address for your polling location.

6. Do I obtain marriage, birth, and death certificates at the Borough Clerk’s Office?

No, they are obtained at the Health Department, whose phone number is 201-664-7100, ext. 129.

7. May I submit my passport application to the Borough Clerk?

No. If it is a new application, or if it is a renewal application for a child whose original application was issued prior to the age of 16, then you must go with all of your information (pictures, certified copy of birth certificate, fees) to:
County Clerk's Office
Bergen County Administration Building
One Bergen County Plaza
Hackensack, NJ 07601

If it is a renewal for an adult, or if it is a renewal for a child whose original passport was issued after the age of 16, then it may be done through the mail. It takes approximately 8 weeks to obtain a new or renewed passport. The Borough Clerk's office has both new and renewal applications. It is a good idea to call first to see if they are in stock, because the Borough of Westwood must obtain them from the County Clerk's Office in Hackensack.

8. Do I need a permit for a garage sale or a yard sale or an estate sale?

No. Please note you are not permitted to place signs on telephone poles, streetlights, on public property or in the right-of-way.

9. How do I obtain a commuter parking decal?

The Borough Clerk's office issues Commuter Parking Decals for Westwood residents and non-residents. See our Borough of Westwood Parking handout (PDF) for additional information.

Please bring your vehicle registration and driver’s license to the clerk’s office to obtain a parking decal. The cost is $10 for the calendar year for resident decals, and $20 for non-resident decals.

10. How do I obtain senior citizen transportation assistance?

To obtain senior citizen transportation assistance, call the Senior Van line at 201-664-7100, ext. 170.

11. How can I find out which school my child will be attending?

You can check the Westwood Regional School District website for information about the school system, or you can call the Board of Education at 201-664-0880.

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1. What is Westwood Office of Emergency Management?

Westwood’s Office of Emergency Management represents our local participation in our nation's official emergency management structure:

1. Federal Emergency Management Association
2. New Jersey Office Emergency Management (NJSP)
3. Bergen County Office Emergency Management
4. Westwood Office of Emergency Management (OEM)

2. What is the Office of Emergency Management’s mission?

The Office of Emergency Management's (OEM) mission is to "Implement an Emergency Plan and Direct Response"

This is accomplished through coordination of Borough resources with Borough department heads:

• Agencies
  • Red Cross
• County
  • Haz-Mat
  • Health
  • Office of Emergency Management
• Federal
  • Coast Guard
  • Environmental Protection Agency
  • Federal Emergency Management Agency
• Municipal
  • Neighboring Communities
• State
  • New Jersey Department of Health
  • New Jersey Office of Emergency Management
  • New Jersey State Police

3. What is the Office of Emergency Management's role?

Should an emergency arise that would cause the activation of the Office of Emergency Management Organization, and department heads would remain in charge of their respective sections. However, requests for communications, movements, resources and needs would be coordinated through the incident command post site or at the Emergency Operations Center.

4. Who is part of Westwood’s Office of Emergency Management?

The following groups make up Westwood’s Office of Emergency Management:

• Board of Education
• Building
• Citizen Volunteers
• City Council
• Department of Public Works
• Engineering
• Fire
• Health
• Police
• Social Service

5. How does the Office of Emergency Management achieve its mission?

Efforts by the Westwood Office of Emergency Management to achieve its mission include:

• Mitigation - Activities that eliminate or reduce the risk of disaster
  • Building codes
  • Flood plain management
  • Insurance
  • Public education
• Preparedness
  • Exercise
  • Planning
  • Public information systems and warning
  • Training
• Recovery - Mitigation measures such as temporary housing and food, restoring non-vital Borough services
  • Short term - operations that seek to restore critical services and meet basic needs
  • Long term - actions that restore community to normal state
• Response
  • Direction/Control
  • Emergency service to address immediate and short term effects of a emergency/ disaster
  • Evacuation
  • Warning

6. What goes into preparedness?

Several elements go into preparedness, including:

• Emergency Operations Plan - on file with County / State
  • Address all emergencies - Weather related, Hazmat, Terrorism, WMD
  • Describes alert and Warning protocol - Radio, Television, Auto-dialing systems
  • Describes critical facilities, shelters, roads, waterways
  • Describes direction and control protocol of Police, Fire, medical, DPW services
  • Describes use of assets for all emergency / disaster situations, evacuation procedures
• Local Emergency Planning Committee  / Haz-Mat - Local Emergency Planning Committee
  • Quarterly meetings
• Office of Emergency Management
  • Monthly meetings

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1. Where can I park my car if I visit the Westwood central business district?

In addition, to the metered parking spaces located on the streets surrounding the central business district, there are also four metered, off-street Municipal Parking Lots. View information about the location of these lots (PDF).

2. When coming to Westwood for shopping on Saturday, it is difficult to find a parking space. Where can I park?

The Washington Avenue Municipal Parking Lot, which is located two blocks from the central business district, is usually about 95% empty on Saturday. View information about the location of this lot (PDF).

3. How do I use the Master Meters that are located in the Municipal Parking Lots?

Instructions for the use of the Master Meters are posted on the unit itself, and in addition are displayed on signs posted throughout the Municipal Parking Lots. View information about the use of the Master Meter (PDF).

4. Where are the 9-hour parking meters located?

The 9-hours parking meters (parking spaces) are at the following locations:

• Broadway (on the west side, just south of Irvington Avenue)
• Center Avenue - North Municipal Parking Lot (in the back)
• Fairview Avenue (between Bergen Street and Jefferson Avenue)

5. What should I do if a parking meter does not accept the coins?

Call the Westwood Violations Bureau office at 201-666-8510. Clearly state your name and telephone number. In addition, describe the location of the parking meter that did not accept the coin and the date and time of the incident.

6. Where do I go to pay a Parking Summons?

In order to pay a Parking Summons, you should go to the Violations Bureau, which is located on the 2nd floor of the Westwood Municipal Complex. The Municipal Complex is located at:
101 Washington Avenue
Westwood, NJ 07675

7. Can a Parking Enforcement Officer cancel a Parking Summons?

No, a Parking Enforcement Officer does not have the authority to cancel a Parking Summons. A Parking Summons can only be dismissed by the Municipal Court Judge.

8. When does the Parking Utility hold its meetings?

The Parking Utility holds quarterly meetings.

9. How do I apply for a position with the Parking Utility?

You can apply for a position with the Parking Utility by completing an employment application, and filing it at the Office of the Borough Clerk.

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1. Who is responsible for the tree in the front of my house?

Trees that are in the right-of-way (in the curb area) are taken care of by the Borough. When in doubt, call the Department of Public Works at 201-664-2349 or email the Department of Public Works.

2. How can I get a tree planted in the curb area?

Fill out the form to request a tree by clicking here.

3. Can I plant my own tree in the curb area?

You must get permission from the Department of Public Works to do so and follow the written guidelines available at the Department of Public Works.

4. How can I know what kind of tree to plant?

The Shade Tree Committee has designated only certain trees that may be planted. Check the guidelines on the 2023-2024 Shade Tree Operations Plan by clicking here.  

5. The tree roots have raised the sidewalk in front of my house. What can be done?

Call the Department of Public Works at 201-664-2349. They will make a decision as to how to best correct the issue.

6. I want to have the tree cut down in front of my house in the curb area. What do I do?

The decision to remove a tree must be made by the Department of Public Works or the Shade Tree Advisory Committee. You can call Public Works at 201-664-2349 or contact the Committee via email at shadetree@westwoodnj.gov. There is an Ordinance that prohibits the removal or pruning of a Municipal tree. If you remove or prune a town tree, you will be fined.

7. How can I have the tree in the curb area pruned?

Please email the Shade Tree Committee at shadetree@westwoodnj.gov and leave your request and your phone number.

8. I’ve seen people planting in the curb strip. Is that okay?

No planting may be done in this area without consent of the Department of Public Works.

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1. How are properties assessed for taxing purposes?

Market Value

New Jersey employs an "ad valorum" system of property taxation meaning that properties are taxed "according to value". The value in question is "Market Value" which is the price that can be obtained on the open market in a sale between unrelated parties, which are not being compelled to sell or buy. Accordingly, properties are assessed based on their market value.

Variables that Affect Market Value

Any factors that can influence market value are considered in the assessment. This includes (but is not limited to) the property's:

• Age
• Condition
• Location
• Size

2. How often are properties assessed for taxing purposes?

There is no statutory schedule for assessing or reassessing properties in New Jersey. County Boards of Taxation can order reassessments or revaluations whenever their analysis of various statistical measures and other factors indicate the need for same.

Although there is no provision, or need, to update the entire assessment list every year, there is a need to keep the list current in terms of changes to individual properties. Properties that undergo physical change are inspected and reassessed to reflect said changes. Changes that can affect assessed values include:

• Additions and Renovations
• Demolitions
• Lot Consolidations
• New Construction
• Severe Physical Damages
• Subdivisions

3. How often do tax rates change?

Although assessed values may remain unchanged over an extended time period, tax rates change on an annual basis to meet the budgetary requirements of the School Board, Municipal Government, and County Government.

4. Can I challenge the amount I pay in taxes?

The amount one pays in taxes cannot be challenged; however, the assessed value of the property may be challenged through the filing of a tax appeal. Appeals are legal actions which must be filed with the County Board of Taxation or Tax Court between February 1 and April 1 of the year in question. Please note that these are adversarial proceedings where the Borough is named as a defendant.

Petitioners filing an appeal are entitled to a hearing at the County Tax Board or trial at the Tax Court and are responsible for the preparation, prosecution, and management of their own case. Since it represents a clear conflict of interest, the Township is under no obligation to assist, direct, or facilitate property owners intent on filing these actions.