Pursuant to Section 11 of the Uniform Fire Safety Act (P.L.
1983, c. 383), the New Jersey Uniform Fire Code shall be locally enforced
in the Borough of Riverton.
The local enforcing agency within the Borough of Riverton shall
be the Bureau of Fire Prevention Unit of the Riverton Fire Department.
The Bureau shall consist of the Fire Official and such Fire
Inspectors as may be required to carry out the intent of the code,
as well as any other support staff as may be required.
The local enforcing agency shall enforce the Uniform Fire Safety
Act and the codes and regulations adopted under it with respect to
those buildings, structures and premises within the boundaries of
the Borough of Riverton, other than owner-occupied one- and two-family
dwellings, that are subject to the Act and shall faithfully comply
with the requirements of the Uniform Fire Safety Act and Uniform Fire
Code.
A.
The Fire Official shall be appointed by the Council of the Borough
of Riverton and serve a term of three years, or until his/her successor
is appointed.
[Amended 2-8-2017 by Ord.
No. O-2017-02]
B.
The Fire Official shall enforce the New Jersey Uniform Fire Code,
all related ordinances of the Borough of Riverton, and those regulations
set forth in the New Jersey Administrative Code or adopted locally
in accordance with the authority vested by the New Jersey Uniform
Fire Code.
C.
The Fire Official shall meet all qualifications for the position
as required by law.
D.
The Fire Official shall:
(1)
Be in charge of the day-to-day operations of the Bureau;
(2)
Take all action necessary to enforce the provisions of the Fire Safety
Act;
(3)
Make or cause to be made an investigation of each occurrence of fire
within the Borough of Riverton;
(4)
Provide the Borough Council, upon request, specific reports relating
to the Bureau;
(5)
Establish standard operating procedures for the operation of the
Bureau.
The Fire Official and Inspectors of the enforcing agency shall
be subject to removal by the governing body of the Borough of Riverton
for unsatisfactory performance or misconduct. Each person to be so
removed shall be afforded an opportunity to be heard by the appointing
authority or designated hearing officer.
The Bureau shall carry out the registration and periodic inspections
of life-hazard uses required by the Uniform Fire Code on behalf of
the Commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs.
Pursuant to Sections 15 and 17 of the Uniform Fire Safety Act,
any person aggrieved by any order of the local enforcing agency shall
have the right to appeal to the Construction Board of Appeals of Burlington
County.
A.
Required registration and inspections. All fire safety uses shall
be registered. All non-life hazard uses shall be required to be inspected
at least once every two years for compliance with the provisions of
this chapter and the Uniform Fire Safety Act. When in the opinion
of the Fire Official there exist conditions likely to cause fire,
contribute to the spread of fire, interfere with firefighting operations,
endanger life or violate the provisions or intent of this code, additional
inspections may be made as often as necessary for the purpose of ascertaining
these conditions and causing them to be corrected.
[Amended 2-8-2017 by Ord.
O-2017-02; 5-17-2022 by Ord. No. O-2022-04]
B.
Payment of fees. The owner of the building is responsible to register,
schedule an inspection and pay the associated fee(s) for buildings
containing common or public areas. The tenant/occupant is responsible
to register, schedule an inspection and pay the associated fee(s)
for the space occupied by the tenant/occupant. All fees will cover
a period of one year and are not subject to refund or proration.
C.
The inspection of smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors and
fire extinguishers prior to the resale or rental of a single- or two-family
dwelling shall be $75. An additional charge of $25 will be added in
the event the request for inspection is made within 7 days of requiring
the certificate to be produced for a property settlement or move in
date. Should a second visit be required, the fee for this inspection
shall be $50. All fees are payable at the time of inspection. The
owner of these dwellings is responsible to ensure that the address
of the dwelling is in numbers contrasting in color to the dwelling
and visible from the street.
[Amended 5-17-2022 by Ord. No. O-2022-04]
D.
Doubtful local use classifications. When a building or structure
is not specifically provided for in this chapter or classification
of which is doubtful, the building or structure shall be included
in the group which it most nearly resembles in respect to the existing
life and fire hazard, and it shall be so classified by the Fire Official.
E.
Fee schedule. The inspection fee schedule is as follows:
|
Inspection Required
| |
|---|---|
|
Fee
| |
|
Commercial
| |
|
Mercantile establishments having a gross floor area of less
than 500 square feet
|
$50
|
|
Mercantile establishments having a gross floor area of more
than 500 square feet but less than 2,500 square feet
|
$70
|
|
Mercantile establishments having a gross floor area of more
than 2,500 square feet but less than 12,000 square feet.
|
$140
|
|
Storage
| |
|
Buildings used for storage with a gross floor area
of less than 2,500 square feet
|
$150
|
|
Buildings used for storage with a gross floor area
of 2,500 square feet or more but less than 12,000 square feet
|
$250
|
|
Residential
| |
|
Multiple-family dwellings
|
$50 per unit
|
F.
Any and all fees related to Chapter 69 of the Code of the Borough of Riverton that remain uncollected past 90 days as reported by the Fire Official shall be turned over to the Violations Clerk of the Municipal Court. The fines and penalties imposed in said Municipal Court shall be disposed of as prescribed by law.
[Added 5-17-2022 by Ord. No. O-2022-04]
B.
Aboveground storage use of any flammable liquid or combustible liquid
or gas, 300 gallons or more: $ 30.
C.
Any process or storage of propane gas, including all type occupancies:
$30.
D.
Publicly owned buildings: no fee.
E.
Buildings occupied for welfare purposes: no fee.
G.
The fee for the issuance of a Certificate of Fire Code Status shall
be $25.
No person shall operate or use or maintain any open fire or
device commonly known as a "barbeque" in or on any apartment unit,
porch, balcony, covered patio area or any other private area of an
apartment or multifamily dwelling unit. The Fire Official may, upon
application made, exempt any person from the provisions of this section,
provided that the request is made in writing and the Fire Official
certifies that the procedures are safe with regard to fire protection
and fire prevention standards, which standards are incorporated in
the Fire Prevention Code.
No person shall store or park or cause to store or park any
internal combustion engine vehicle, including, but not limited to,
those commonly known as "motorcycle," "moped," "go-cart," "dirt bike,"
"lawnmower," "snowblower," etc., in or on any apartment unit porch,
balcony, covered patio area, entrance, exit or any other private area
of an apartment or multi-dwelling unit.
All doorway entrances shall have printed thereon, in block letters
at least three inches high and approximately six inches from the top
of the doorway, in conspicuously contrasting colors, the name of the
commercial establishment located therein; provided, however, that
there shall be exempt from this requirement such main entrances as
are otherwise conspicuously and clearly marked with the identity of
the commercial establishment located therein. It is the intent of
this provision that emergency personnel arriving at the scene of a
fire or other emergency have immediate identification of access routes
to commercial occupancies located in a particular commercial building(s).
In addition, all buildings shall have affixed thereon, in accordance
with the 2008 International Property Maintenance Code, the address
of the property.
