New Resident Information
Department of Community Services
The Department of Community Services (DCS) is responsible for Public Works, Code Administration (Construction/Building, Code), Planning & Zoning, Engineering, environmental initiatives, and Affordable Housing. DCS serves as the single point of contact for all property and land development issues.
Trash and Recycling
Your weekly collection day is based on your residence's location in the city; view the collection schedule here. Though trash and recycling are picked up on the same day, they are separate collections; trash collection is performed by Division of Public Works staff, and recycling collection is performed by Grand Sanitation. Recycling bins must be brought to the curb by 6AM the morning of your collection, or the night before. Trash cans should not be brought to the curb but should be kept somewhere on your driveway or near your house or garage. Please clear a path for crews to access trash containers. If containers are not accessible, crews will not remove trash. The city does not provide residents with trash cans or recycling bins. During weeks with major holidays, there is a modified recycling schedule. Trash is still collected on holidays in Summit. More information on trash and recycling collection is available here.
Transfer Station
Located at 40 New Providence Avenue in Summit, the municipal Transfer Station provides recycling, composting, and solid waste disposal solutions for Summit residents. A disposal permit is required for each residential vehicle that uses the facility. The digital permit is issued by the Parking Services Agency and is managed by license plate recognition with no physical sticker to place on a vehicle. It is a dual permit for both the Transfer Station and to park in certain lots for commuting purposes. Please contact the Parking Services Agency at 908-522-5100 with any questions, learn more here, or register online.
Department of Community Services: (908) 273-6404
Finance & Taxes
Taxes can be paid online or in person at the Finance & Tax Office at City Hall, 512 Springfield Avenue. Taxes are due quarterly on the first of the month: February 1, May 1, August 1, November 1.
Finance & Taxes: 908-277-9400, option 7
Pet Licenses
State law requires the licensing of every dog that has either reached the age of seven months or has a set of permanent teeth. By local ordinance, all cats are required to be licensed at seven months.
Licenses must be obtained from the municipality in which the animal resides. However, a current license from another New Jersey municipality is accepted as compliance. When that license expires, the animal must be licensed in Summit. All animals must be registered with the Summit Health Department within ten days of moving to Summit or reaching licensing age.
The City of Summit licensing year is June 1 through May 31. Licenses must be renewed annually.
Dog and cat license applications can be obtained online or at the Health Department, located at City Hall (512 Springfield Avenue).
Health Department: 908-277-6464
Mayor & Common Council
Mayor Nora Radest holds office hours at City Hall (512 Springfield Avenue) on Mondays from 10AM to 12PM and on Wednesdays from 10:30AM to 12:30PM. Residents are invited to stop by and chat with Mayor Radest, no appointment necessary.
Contact Mayor Radest: 908-273-6400
Common Council is the city's governing body. Three members are elected from each of two wards for a three-year term in office. One member is elected "at-large" for a two-year term.
View the meeting calendar, agendas and minutes, current members, and more information here.
Voting and Elections
The City Clerk presides over local elections. Determine your Ward and District to find your polling location here. The Union County Clerk website also has information on local elections.
Office of the City Clerk: 908-273-6400
Parking
By municipal ordinance, no vehicle shall be parked on any street during any night of the year between the hours of 2:30AM and 5AM or when snow is forecast. Residents may submit a request for overnight street parking to the Summit Police Department online. Requests must be received prior to 2AM or subject to a parking citation. Call the police department non-emergency number 908-273-0051 with any questions.
View the City of Summit Parking Map (PDF) to learn more about downtown parking lots, employee and commuter parking, parking holidays, and more.
A residential parking permit can be purchased from the Parking Services Agency; this allows you to park in certain lots and access the Municipal Transfer Station. Learn more here or contact Parking Services at 908-522-5100 with any questions.
Overnight on-street parking rules
By municipal ordinance, no vehicle shall be parked on any street during any night of the year between the hours of 2:30AM and 5AM or when snow is forecast. Requests must be received prior to 2AM or subject to a parking citation. Submit a request online using this link. Call the police department non-emergency number 908-273-0051 with questions.
Parking Services: 908-522-5100
Department of Community Programs (DCP)
DCP provides recreation and other services to the Summit community, including holiday events, afterschool care programs, sports and art classes, concerts and movies on the Village Green, programs and classes for seniors, and much more. The department also manages the Summit Family Aquatic Center (SFAC), the Municipal Golf Course (the Muni), and certain parks and other facilities such as tennis and basketball courts throughout Summit. Visit the DCP website for more information on their programming; there's something for everyone!
Department of Community Programs: (908) 277-2932
Sign up for notifications from the City of Summit
Stay informed and up to date on city news, important updates, events, and more.
Swiftreach 911
SwiftReach Swift 9-1-1 provides emergency information by telephone, text, fax, and email about city-wide, high-priority events. Emergency notifications will be sent from 908-608-8051. Please add this number to your mobile phone contacts.
Nixle Alerts
The Summit Police Department issues Nixle alerts providing important, event-related information by telephone, email and text message, as well as through the Nixle website.
Website notifications
Summit residents can sign up to receive alerts via text and/or email from the city website on a variety of topics such as Mayor and Council, parking, construction, and more. Sign up now.
SeeClickFix
Submit non-emergency requests to the city using the Report a Concern tool on the city website or the SeeClickFix app on your smartphone. Submit items that need fixing in your neighborhood or around town such as a missed trash or recycling pickup, a missing sign, broken streetlight, and more. Get started now.
Downtown Summit
Downtown Summit is a vibrant, regional destination with a lively art, shopping, and restaurant scene, providing visitors with a true sense of place and community. Summit Downtown, Inc (SDI) is a non-profit organization that represents retailers, businesses, and property owners in the downtown Special Improvement District. SDI organizes events such as the Arts & Cars arts festival and car show, Family Fun Night, Summit Street Sounds, trick-or-treating in the downtown, Carriages and Carolers, and much more. SDI oversees marketing of the downtown and its businesses and works with city stakeholders to create and maintain an engaging downtown experience for visitors and businesses.
The Summit Farmers Market is open from April to December on Sundays from 8AM to 1PM in downtown Summit and is host to dozens of local famers and purveyors.
Summit Downtown, Inc: 908-277-6100
NJ Transit
Located on the Morris & Essex service line of New Jersey Transit, Summit has direct train service to New York City. The Summit station is located in downtown Summit, at 40 Union Place, between the downtown area and the Village Green. If you plan to commute into New York, a resident parking permit will allow you to park in certain lots in the downtown area. Parking Services also operates a ridesharing program with Lyft and Uber, which allows residents to get round trip service from home to the Summit train station for the cost of daily parking.