[HISTORY: Adopted by the Mayor and Council of the Borough of Glassboro 12-26-2000 by Ord. No. 00-48. Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Fire prevention — See Ch. 264.
Garbage and refuse — Ch. 408, Art I.
The following terms, whenever used or referred to in this chapter, shall have the following respective meanings for the purpose of this chapter, unless a different meaning clearly appears from the context:
BUILDING or STRUCTURE
Any such structure other than a dwelling.
CODE OFFICIAL
The officer who is authorized by this chapter to assess powers prescribed herein.
DWELLING
Any building or structure or part thereof used or occupied for human habitation or intended to be so used, including any appurtenances belonging thereto.
OWNER
The record holder of the title of any lot in fee simple.
PARTIES IN INTEREST
All individuals, associations and corporations who have interest of record in a dwelling, building or structure or any who are in physical possession thereof.
PUBLIC AUTHORITY
Any housing authority or any officer who is in charge of any department or branch of the government of the Borough of Glassboro, County of Gloucester, and State of New Jersey, relating to health, fire, building regulations or to other activities concerning dwellings, buildings and structures in the Borough of Glassboro.
Whenever it shall be found that there exists in the Borough of Glassboro dwellings, buildings or structures which are unfit for human habitation, occupancy or use due to dilapidation, disrepair, structural defects increasing the hazards of fire, accidents or other calamities, lack of adequate ventilation, light or sanitary facilities or constructed or existing in violation of the applicable construction code or in violation of other Borough of Glassboro ordinances or due to other conditions rendering such dwellings, buildings or structures unsafe or unsanitary or dangerous or detrimental to the health or safety, they shall be deemed an unsafe condition. All unsafe dwellings, buildings or structures shall be taken down and removed or made safe as the Code Official deems necessary. A vacant structure that is not secure against entry shall be deemed unsafe.
If an unsafe condition is found, the Code Official shall serve, on the owner, agent or person in control of the structure, a written notice that describes the condition deemed unsafe and specifies the required repairs or improvements to be made to abate the unsafe condition or that requires the unsafe structure to be demolished within a stipulated time. Such notice shall be deemed properly served if a copy thereof is delivered to the owner personally or sent by certified or registered mail addressed to the owner at the last known address, with a return receipt requested. If the certified or registered letter is returned showing that the letter was not delivered, a copy thereof shall be posted in a conspicuous place in or about the structure affected by such notice. Service of such notice in the foregoing manner upon the owner's agent or upon the person responsible for the structure shall constitute service of the notice upon the owner.
The structure or equipment determined to be unsafe by the Code Official may be permitted to be restored to a safe condition consistent with the notice provided to the owner of said property. To the extent that repairs, alterations or additions are made or change of occupancy changes during the restoration of the structure, such repairs, alterations, additions or change of occupancies shall comply with the time frame provided in the notice, along with any permits required by the Borough of Glassboro to complete said work.
Should any property owner or party in interest fail to comply with the Code Official's notice in the time prescribed, the owner or party in interest shall be cited and the matter shall be set down for a hearing before the Borough of Glassboro Municipal Court Judge. The Judge shall determine, by clear and convincing evidence, whether said structure shall be deemed an unsafe condition. The Judge, by order, may adopt, modify or reject the written notice provided to the owner regarding the requested action to be taken on said property as well as the imposition of fines for noncompliance. The Borough of Glassboro and owner shall have the right to appear in person or with counsel and provide testimony at the scheduled hearing.
Any owner or party in interest who fails to allow a Code Official or his designated representative access to the interior of said dwelling for the purposes of making an inspection after written notice shall constitute a violation of this chapter. If the owner or party in interest fails to consent to said inspection upon seven days' written notice, it shall create a rebuttable presumption that a violation has occurred.
[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I)]
Any owner or party in interest who falls to allow an inspection, make repairs or demolish said structure within the time prescribed by the Code Official in accordance with this chapter established herein may, upon conviction thereof, be liable for a fine of not more than $2,000, imprisonment for not more than 90 days or a period of community service for not more than 90 days, or any combination thereof, for each violation. A violation shall be deemed committed for each day the building or structure is in noncompliance following the expiration of the time period provided for corrective action in the notice by the Code Official.
[Amended 8-26-2003 by Ord. No. 03-26]
If the owner fails to comply with an order to repair, alter, improve or demolish, as the case may be, then the Code Official shall cause such dwelling, building or structure to be repaired, altered or improved or to be vacated and closed or demolished. The Code Official shall cause notice to be posted on the main entrance of any dwelling so closed a placard with the following words:
THIS BUILDING IS UNFIT FOR HUMAN HABITATION; THE USE OR OCCUPATION OF THIS BUILDING FOR HUMAN HABITATION IS PROHIBITED AND UNLAWFUL.
If the owner fails to comply with an order to remove or demolish the building or structure, the Code Official may cause such building to be removed or demolished or may contract for the removal or demolition after advertisement and receipt of bids for said work.
The amount of the costs of such repair, alterations or improvements or vacating or in closing or removal or demolition, if any, when done by the Code Official or successful bidder upon contract by the Borough, as well as any costs of legal representation, fines, expert fees, search fees and advertising charges incurred in the course of any proceedings taken pursuant to this chapter, shall be a municipal lien against real property upon which such costs were incurred.
A. 
When, in the opinion of the Code Official, there is actual and immediate danger of failure or collapse of the building or structure or any part thereof which would endanger life, or when any structure or part of a structure has fallen and life is endangered by the occupation of the building or structure, the Code Official is hereby authorized and empowered, pursuant to the police powers of the Borough, to order and require the occupant to vacate the same forthwith. He shall cause to be posted at each entrance of such building, notice reading as follows:
THIS STRUCTURE IS UNSAFE AND ITS USE OR OCCUPANCY HAS BEEN PROHIBITED BY THE CODE OFFICIAL, AND IT SHALL BE UNLAWFUL FOR ANY PERSON TO ENTER SUCH BUILDING OR STRUCTURE EXCEPT FOR THE PURPOSE OF MAKING THE REQUIRED REPAIRS OR IF DEMOLISHING THE SAME.
B. 
When, in the opinion of the Code Official, there is an actual and immediate danger of collapse or failure of the building or structure or any part thereof which would endanger life, the Code Official shall cause the necessary work to be done to render such building or structure or part thereof temporarily safe, whether or not the written notice herein described has been instituted. When necessary for the public's safety, the Code Official may temporarily close sidewalks, streets, buildings and structures in places adjacent to such unsafe structure and prohibit the same from being used. For the purposes of making any emergency repairs, the Code Official shall employ the necessary labor and materials to perform the required work as expeditiously as possible. Any owner or party in interest may request a hearing consistent with this chapter prior to the cost of any such repairs, alterations or improvements or demolition as well as legal expert fees being considered a municipal lien against the real property upon which such costs was incurred.
In addition to the powers herein granted to the Code Official, he/she shall also have the following powers:
A. 
To investigate the dwellings, buildings and structures in the Borough of Glassboro in order to determine which premises therein are unfit for human habitation, occupancy or use as well as whether any such structure is in actual and immediate danger of failure or collapse.
B. 
To enter upon premises for the purpose of making an inspection, provided that such entry shall be made in such a manner to cause the least possible inconvenience to persons in possession. Should the Code Official be unable to orally confer with or make arrangements with the owner or other party in interest, he/she shall provide seven days' written notice when an interior inspection will occur, and the property owner is obligated to make the property available for inspection.
C. 
To apply for an administrative warrant to the Municipal Court Judge where said owner or other party in interest fails to permit an interior inspection of said property.
D. 
To exercise such other and additional powers as are reasonably necessary to carry out and effectuate the purpose and provisions of this chapter.
Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to abrogate or impair the powers of the courts or of any Borough departments to enforce any provisions of the municipality or its ordinances or regulations, nor to prevent or punish violations thereof; and the powers conferred by this chapter shall be in addition and supplemental to the powers conferred by any other law or ordinance.