[HISTORY: Derived from Ch. X, Sec. 10-21,
of the Revised General Ordinances of the Borough of Fort Lee, 1978,
adopted 3-1-1979; amended in its entirety 11-15-2012 by Ord. No. 2012-33. Subsequent amendments noted where applicable.]
A.Â
Every person, firm or corporation engaged in the business of constructing,
erecting, altering, repairing, restoring, reroofing, re-siding, moving
or demolishing the whole or any part of buildings or structures or
engaged in the construction and installation of swimming pools or
engaged in the business of erecting or altering signs, for any of
which a permit is required by the applicable ordinances of the Borough,
shall be required to register the name of such person, firm or corporation
with the Building Inspector.
B.Â
Persons, firms or corporations engaged in the business of constructing
homes, who are required to be registered by the State of New Jersey
pursuant to the New Home Warranty and Builders Registration Act, N.J.S.A.
46:3B-1 et seq., or the Contractors' Registration Act, N.J.S.A.
56:8-136 et seq., shall not be required to be registered under the
provisions of this chapter.
C.Â
The owner or occupant of a building or structure applying for a permit
required by a Borough ordinance shall not be required to register,
provided that he intends to do and supervise his own work.
For the purposes of this chapter, there shall be the following
registration classes:
A.Â
Contractor: a contractor who is engaged in the business of the construction
of a building or structure from start to finish or the alteration,
addition to or repair of any building or structure. This class of
contractor shall be equipped to handle such work by and through his
own work or his own organization or employees.
B.Â
Demolition contractor: a contractor who is engaged in the business
of demolishing any building or structure in whole or in part.
C.Â
General contractor: a contractor who is engaged in the business of
the construction of a building or structure from start to finish or
the alteration, addition to or repair of any building or structure.
This class of contractor shall be equipped to handle such work either
by and through his own organization or appropriate subcontractors
and, in the latter event, must be completely responsible for his subcontractors'
work.
D.Â
Miscellaneous contractor: a contractor who is engaged in work of
a special character as determined by the Building Inspector.
E.Â
Moving contractor: a contractor who is engaged in the business of
moving any building or structures.
F.Â
Roofing and siding contractor: a contractor who is engaged in the
business of the application of roofing and siding materials to existing
or new building structures.
G.Â
Sign or billboard contractor: a contractor who is engaged in the
business of the erection, alteration or maintenance of signs or billboards.
H.Â
Swimming pool contractor: a contractor who is engaged in the business
of the installation of swimming pools, their equipment and appurtenances.
A.Â
Applications for registration under this chapter shall be submitted
to the Building Inspector on forms supplied by him and shall include,
in addition to any information he may deem necessary, the following
information:
(1)Â
Business name or corporate or firm name of the contractor;
(2)Â
In the case of a firm, corporation or partnership, the name and address
of each principal officer and/or member of said firm, corporation
or partnership;
(3)Â
The number of years such person, firm or corporation has been in
business;
(4)Â
The number of years such person, firm or corporation has conducted
business at its current locations;
(5)Â
The address(es) of prior business locations, if any, and the dates
during which it conducted business at each address;
(6)Â
The name and address of the applicant's public liability insurance
company, amount(s) of coverage and policy number(s). A copy of the
applicant's public liability insurance policy declarations page
shall be submitted with the application;
(7)Â
The name(s) and license number(s) of any licensed architect(s) and/or
engineer(s) which the applicant has on staff.
B.Â
The applicant shall also state the type of work customarily performed
by the applicant.
A.Â
If any person, firm or corporation registered by the State of New
Jersey or under the provisions of this chapter shall fail, in the
execution of any work, to comply with the applicable ordinances and
regulations of the Borough relevant to the construction, erection,
alteration, repair, restoration, re-siding, reroofing, moving or demolition
of any building, structure, swimming pool, sign or billboard or park
thereof, the Building Inspector shall cause a notice of violation
to be served upon such person, or principal member or officer of any
such firm or corporation. Such notice shall:
(1)Â
Be in writing;
(2)Â
Include a statement of the reasons why it is being issued;
(3)Â
State that unless, within 10 days from the service of the notice,
a written request is made for hearing before the Building Inspector,
said notice shall, at the expiration of such ten-day period, be deemed
an order to cease and desist from and to abate the described violation;
(4)Â
Prescribe a reasonable time within which such person shall be required
to cease and desist from and to abate such violation.
B.Â
Upon a finding by the Building Inspector that the person, firm or
corporation has failed to comply with any of the applicable ordinances
and/or regulations of the Borough, or upon the failure of such person,
firm or corporation to correct such violation within the period of
time specified in the notice of violation, the person, firm or corporation
may be fined up to the maximum extent allowed by law. Where applicable,
the Borough issued registration of such person, firm or corporation
shall be revoked by the Building Inspector, who shall strike the name
of such person, firm or corporation from the registration list and
shall not reenter or reinstate such registration during such time
as said violation exists or remains.
Any person, firm or corporation whose registration has been revoked under the provisions of § 159-5 of this chapter may reregister and have his or its name reentered upon the registration list upon submitting proof satisfactory to the Building Inspector that all violations with reference to which the registration was revoked have been corrected or are nonexistent and upon payment of the fee prescribed in § 159-4.
A.Â
Any person who violates any provision of this chapter shall, upon
conviction thereof, be punished by a fine not exceeding $2,000, imprisonment
for a term not exceeding 90 days and/or a period of community service
not exceeding 90 days; and each violation of any of the provisions
of this chapter and each day the same is violated shall be deemed
and taken to be a separate and distinct offense.
B.Â
The imposition of penalties herein prescribed shall not preclude
the Borough or any person from instituting appropriate legal action
or proceeding to prevent an unlawful erection, construction, reconstruction,
alteration, repair, conversion, maintenance, use or tenancy or to
restrain, correct or abate a violation or to prevent the illegal occupancy
of a building, structure or premises.
