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Village of Ridgefield Park, NJ
Bergen County
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Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Code
New Laws (38) Index
[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Commissioners of the Village of Ridgefield Park 7-11-2006 by Ord. No. 06-11 (Ch. 104 of the 1985 Code). Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Fire Department — See Ch. 55.
Zoning — See Ch. 96.
Development regulations — See Ch. 96A.
Alarm systems — See Ch. 108.
Numbering of buildings — See Ch. 139.
Unfit and unsafe buildings — See Ch. 142.
Certificates of compliance — See Ch. 153.
Construction codes — See Ch. 160.
Hazardous materials — See Ch. 220.
Housing standards — See Ch. 225.
[1]
Editor’s Note: The title of this chapter, which was formerly Fire Protection, was amended 4-11-2017 by Ord. No. 2017-03.
Pursuant to Section 11 of the Uniform Fire Safety Act (P.L. 1983, c. 383), the New Jersey Uniform Fire Code, N.J.A.C. 5:70-1 et seq., shall be locally enforced in the Village of Ridgefield Park.
The local enforcing agency shall be the Bureau of Fire Prevention of the Village of Ridgefield Park ("the Bureau" or "Bureau of Fire Prevention").
A. 
The local enforcing agency shall enforce the Uniform Fire Code in all buildings, structures and premises within the established boundaries of the Village of Ridgefield Park, other than one- and two-family owner-occupied dwellings used exclusively for dwelling purposes and buildings, structures and premises owned or operated by the federal government, interstate agencies or the State of New Jersey. This section shall include apartment units above commercial establishments.
B. 
The local enforcing agency shall faithfully comply with all of the pertinent requirements of the Uniform Fire Safety Act and the Uniform Fire Code.
[Amended 4-11-2017 by Ord. No. 2017-03; 7-13-2021 by Ord. No. 2021-10]
A. 
The Bureau of Fire Prevention, established by § 188-2 of this chapter, shall be under the direct supervision and control of the Fire Official/Fire Marshal, who shall report to the Commissioner of Public Safety of the Village of Ridgefield Park.
B. 
The Bureau of Fire Prevention shall have at least one paid Fire Inspector.
A. 
Appointments and qualifications of the Fire Official/Fire Marshal and Deputy Fire Official/Fire Marshal. The Fire Official/Fire Marshal and Deputy Fire Official/Fire Marshal shall be certified by the State of New Jersey Division of Fire Safety and appointed by the Commissioner of Public Safety of the Village of Ridgefield Park.
[Amended 4-11-2017 by Ord. No. 2017-03]
B. 
Appointment and qualifications of Fire Inspectors and employees.
(1) 
Fire Inspectors shall be certified by the State of New Jersey and appointed by the governing body of the Village of Ridgefield Park, with the advice of the Fire Official/Fire Marshal taken into consideration. Civilian employees shall be appointed by the governing body of the Village of Ridgefield Park, as recommended by the Fire Official/Fire Marshal.
(2) 
One Fire Inspector shall carry the rank of Captain of the Bureau of Fire Prevention and shall be second-in-command of the Bureau. The Captain shall be appointed by the Fire Commissioner, with the advice of the Fire Official/Fire Marshal taken into consideration.
C. 
Appointment of legal counsel. The Village Attorney shall assist the Fire Official in enforcing the Uniform Fire Code.
D. 
Terms of office.
(1) 
The Fire Official/Fire Marshal shall serve for a term of four years. Any vacancy shall be filled for the unexpired term and appointed as per § 188-5A of this chapter.
(2) 
Fire Inspectors shall serve for a term of one year. Any vacancies shall be filled for the unexpired term and appointed as per § 188-5B of this chapter.
E. 
Removal from office. The Fire Official/Fire Marshal, Inspectors and other employees of the Bureau of Fire Prevention shall be subject to removal by the governing body of the Village of Ridgefield Park for just cause. Before removal from office, all persons shall be afforded an opportunity to be heard by the governing body or by a hearing officer designated by same.
[Amended 7-13-2021 by Ord. No. 2021-10]
The Bureau of Fire Prevention, established by § 188-2 of this chapter, shall carry out the periodic inspections of life-hazard uses, as required by the Uniform Fire Safety Code on behalf of the Commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs.
[Amended 7-13-2021 by Ord. No. 2021-10]
In addition to the registration required by the Uniform Fire Code, the following non-life-hazard uses shall register with the Bureau of Fire Prevention of the Village of Ridgefield Park. Such non-life-hazard uses shall pay an annual registration and inspection fee as per Table A, and shall be annually inspected by a member of said Bureau of Fire Prevention:
TABLE A
A. 
Assembly.
(1) 
A-1 Eating-only establishment, under fifty-occupant load: $80.
(2) 
A-2 Takeout food service, no seating: $80.
(3) 
A-3 Church or synagogue: (exempt/no charge).
(4) 
A-4 Recreation centers, multipurpose rooms, under 100-occupant load: $80.
(5) 
A-5 Court rooms, libraries, fraternal organizations, condominium centers, under 100-occupant load: $120.
(6) 
A-6 Senior citizen centers, fewer than 200-occupant load: $80.
B. 
Business/professional.
(1) 
B-1 One and two stories, less than 5,000 square feet per floor: $80.
(2) 
B-2 One and two stories, 5,001 to 10,000 square feet per floor: $120.
(3) 
B-3 One and two stories, 10,001 to 12,000 square feet per floor: $170.
(4) 
B-4 Three to five stories, less than 5,000 square feet per floor: $220.
(5) 
B-5 Three to five stories, 5,001 to 10,000 square feet per floor: $330.
(6) 
B-6 Three to five stories, over 10,000 square feet per floor: $470.
C. 
Retail.
(1) 
M-1 One story, less than 2,000 square feet: $80.
(2) 
M-2 One and two stories, 2,001 to 5,000 square feet per floor: $160.
(3) 
M-3 One and two stories, 5,001 to 8,000 square feet per floor: $250.
(4) 
M-4 One and two stories, more than 8,001 square feet per floor: $420.
(5) 
M-5 Three to five stories, less than 5,000 square feet per floor: $440.
(6) 
M-6 Three to five stories, over 5,000 square feet per floor: $600.
NOTE: Under the M Use Group, a hardware store 3,000 square feet per floor or more is a life-hazard use. Retail stores over 12,000 square feet are also life-hazard uses.
D. 
Manufacturing (factory) non-life-hazard only.
(1) 
F-1 One and two stories, less than 3,000 square feet per floor: $160.
(2) 
F-2 One and two stories, 3,001 to 7,000 square feet per floor: $270.
(3) 
F-3 One and two stories, more than 7,001 square feet per floor: $420.
(4) 
F-4 Three to five stories, all others, non-life-hazard use: $750.
E. 
Storage (S-1 moderate hazard, S-2 low hazard, non-life-hazard use only).
(1) 
S-1 One and two stories, less than 3,000 square feet per floor: $160.
(2) 
S-2 One and two stories, 3,001 to 7,000 square feet per floor: $270.
(3) 
S-3 One and two stories, over 7,001 square feet per floor: $420.
(4) 
S-4 Three to five stories, all others, non-life-hazard use: $750.
F. 
Residential.
(1) 
R-1 Non-owner-occupied, one family: $75.
(2) 
R-2 Non-owner-occupied, two family: $110.
(3) 
R-3 Three to 10 units, multiple-family: $175.
(4) 
R-4 Eleven to 20 units, multiple-family: $300.
(5) 
R-5 Twenty-one or more units, multiple-family: $475.
G. 
Fire lane violations.
(1) 
For parking in a legally designated fire lane: $75.
H. 
Fire reports.
(1) 
To obtain a copy of a fire report or Fire Officer's/Fire Marshal's investigation: $25.
I. 
Temporary or miscellaneous.
(1) 
Note: Only common areas are inspected in multiple-family dwellings; unit inspections are performed by the Bureau of Housing.
[Amended 7-13-2021 by Ord. No. 2021-10]
Permit fees are established by type group, as defined in the State Uniform Fire Code, as per Table B:
Table B
Type Group
Fee
Type 1
$70
Type 2
$214
Type 3
$427
Type 4
$641
A. 
Buildings owned by the Village of Ridgefield Park are exempt from the fees imposed by this chapter. Buildings of life-hazard use designations owned by the Village of Ridgefield Park shall be regulated in accordance with applicable state regulations.
B. 
Buildings owned by the Village of Ridgefield Park are subject to all the required inspections and regulations pursuant to the Uniform Fire Safety Act.
C. 
All nonprofit corporations, including churches, fraternal organizations and other corporations which are classified as "nonprofit corporations" under Title 15A of the New Jersey Nonprofit Act shall not be required to pay to the Village of Ridgefield Park any registration or permit fee set forth in this chapter. This section does not exempt any nonprofit organization from registration, inspection and/or compliance with the Uniform Fire Code. Life-hazard nonprofit organizations are regulated by the State Division of Fire Safety and shall pay the registration fee required by the State Fire Safety Act.
[Amended 6-12-2012 by Ord. No. 2012-06]
If the required non-life-hazard registration fee is not paid to the Bureau of Fire Prevention of the Village of Ridgefield Park by March 31 of the current year, a late fee of $100 will be charged, and an additional late fee of $100 will be charged for each following month, or part thereof, that said registration fee is delinquent.
The owners of businesses which require non-life-hazard registration fees to be paid under this chapter shall be the responsible party for the payment of said fees.
The Fire Official/Fire Marshal may affix penalties, as permitted by the State Uniform Fire Safety Act. (N.J.A.C. 5:70-2.12).
Pursuant to the Uniform Fire Code, any person aggrieved by any order of the Bureau of Fire Prevention shall have the right to appeal to the Village Construction Board of Appeals.
A. 
A locking cap program for all Fire Department connections for sprinkler systems is hereby implemented within the Village of Ridgefield Park, requiring that all buildings and structures located within the Village that are equipped with automatic fire sprinkler protection or exterior Fire Department connections shall be outfitted with locking Fire Department connection caps.
B. 
The Fire Official/Fire Marshal, in cooperation with the Fire Chief of the Village of Ridgefield Park, shall designate a locking cap program to be implemented uniformly throughout the Village, requiring one key to access all Fire Department connections within the Village.
C. 
The Fire Official/Fire Marshal shall affix penalties for failure to install locking caps, as per the Uniform Fire Code (N.J.A.C. 5:70-2.12).
A. 
A lock box program is hereby established in the Village of Ridgefield Park, requiring all buildings and structures that are unoccupied during certain periods of time and deemed to be inaccessible by the Fire Official/Fire Marshal, in cooperation with the Fire Chief, to purchase and install a lock box outside of the building or structure. Said box shall hold all keys for entry to said building, sprinkler and alarm rooms, boiler rooms and any other area deemed necessary by the Fire Official/Fire Marshal.
B. 
The Fire Official/Fire Marshal, in cooperation with the Fire Chief, shall designate a lock box program to be implemented uniformly throughout the Village of Ridgefield Park, requiring one key to access all the lock boxes within the Village.
C. 
The Fire Official/Fire Marshal shall affix penalties for failure to install lock boxes as per the Uniform Fire Code (N.J.A.C. 5:70-2.12).
All monies generated by the use of the Uniform Fire Code and the Uniform Fire Safety Act shall be used to support the Office of the Fire Official/Fire Marshal and fire prevention education programs.