[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Commissioners
of the Village of Ridgefield Park 8-9-1988 by Ord. No. 17-88; amended
in its entirety 2-14-2006 by Ord. No. 06-03 (Ch. 88 of the 1985
Code). Subsequent amendments noted where applicable.]
A.
A certificate of compliance shall be required in all
changes of occupancy in all residential dwelling units.
B.
The purpose of the issuance of a certificate of compliance, and the inspection in connection with the issuance of the certificate of compliance, is to determine whether the residential dwelling unit is being legally occupied in accordance with the Zoning Code (Chapter 96), and to ensure that, at a minimum, battery-operated smoke and carbon monoxide detectors are installed and that each kitchen of one- and two-family dwellings contains a proper fire extinguisher.
C.
The employee designated by the Board of Commissioners
of the Village of Ridgefield Park to conduct the certificate of compliance
inspection shall work under the supervision of the Construction Official
and shall inspect the dwelling only for these specific purposes.
D.
No person shall occupy or use any building or portion
thereof for residential purposes, where the building or portion thereof
has been sold by the owner or title to the premises has been transferred
to another person, until the owner or an agent for the owner has applied
for and secured a certificate of compliance from the Village of Ridgefield
Park.
E.
A certificate of compliance shall not be transferable.
If the change of occupancy specified in the application for a certificate
of compliance does not occur within six months, a new application,
inspection and certificate shall be required.
A.
Before any dwelling used or intended for use for residential
purposes is sold, leased or otherwise made subject to change of occupancy
for residential purposes, the owner or owner's agent shall apply,
in writing, to the Ridgefield Park Building Department for a certificate
of compliance and shall fill out an appropriate form provided by the
municipality to assist in obtaining the information so that a certificate
of compliance can be expeditiously issued. The application shall be
reviewed by the appropriate official within 10 days, and the official
shall issue a certificate of compliance by the end of that period.
If the official finds that he or she cannot issue a certificate of
compliance, then the official shall issue a written statement to the
owner or agent for the owner forthwith, setting forth the reasons
for the denial, and a copy of the written statement shall be provided
to the applicant and a copy immediately forwarded to the Construction
Official.
B.
Time. The application shall be filed at least 12 days prior to the anticipated date of closing, occurring in the case of resale, by the owner or agent for the owner. Any application filed less than 12 days prior to closing will be charged according to the fee schedule listed in § 153-8 of this chapter.
The Board of Commissioners hereby designates
the Housing Inspector, who periodically makes the housing inspections
in accordance with the New Jersey State Housing Code, as the official
to make the inspections under the terms of this chapter. The Housing
Inspector will work under the supervision of the Construction Official.
The Board of Commissioners shall have the authority to change this
designation by resolution, if it desires.
All tax and assessment searches prepared by
the Tax Collector of the Village of Ridgefield Park or the assessment
search officer shall state that a certificate of compliance is required
in connection with the resale of any building or residential unit.
Failure to affix such notice shall not constitute a defense for the
failure to obtain a certificate of compliance.
A.
The CO alarm is required to be manufactured, listed
and labeled in accordance with UL 2034 and NFPA 720. Each device shall
have a label indicating that it meets this requirement.
B.
The device is permitted to be battery-powered, hard-wired
or plug-in type.
(1)
The alarms may be located on the wall, ceiling or
other location, as specified in the manufacturer's installation instructions.
(2)
The alarms are to be installed in the immediate vicinity
of all sleeping rooms in residential buildings that contain fuel-burning
appliances or have attached garages.
C.
The alarms and installation of same shall also conform
to all other provisions of the New Jersey Fire Safety Code.
The New Jersey State Fire Safety Code requires
that a fire extinguisher be installed in the kitchen of all one- and
two-family residential units.
A.
The extinguisher shall be listed, labeled, charged
and operable.
B.
The size shall be no smaller than 2A:10B:C, rated
for residential use and weigh no more than 10 pounds.
C.
The hangers or brackets supplied by the manufacturer
must be used.
D.
The extinguisher must be located within 10 feet of
the kitchen.
E.
The top of the extinguisher shall not be more than
five feet above the floor.
