[Adopted 1-7-1997 as § 13-12 of the 1996 Revised General Ordinances, as
amended through Ord. No. 1999-9]
A code is hereby adopted by the City governing the conditions
and maintenance of all structures and dwellings; establishing minimum
standards governing supplied utilities and facilities and other physical
things and conditions essential to insure that structures are safe,
sanitary and fit for occupation and use; establishing minimum standards
governing the conditions of dwellings offered for rent; fixing certain
responsibilities and duties of owners and occupants of structures
and the condemnation of dwellings unfit for human habitation and the
demolition of such dwellings and structures; and fixing penalties
for violations.
[Amended 5-21-2013]
The code adopted and established by this article is commonly
known as the "International Property Maintenance Code," including
all subsequent additions, revisions, addenda and editions, as published
by Building Officials and Code Administrators (BOCA) International,
Inc. Each and all of the regulations of the International Property
Maintenance Code, including all subsequent additions, revisions, addenda
and editions, are hereby referred to, adopted and made a part hereof,
as if fully set out in this article.
A.
All reconstruction of walls and siding shall be of standard quality
and appearance commensurate with the character of the properties in
the same block and on both sides of the street on which the premises
fronts, such that the materials used will not be of a kind that, by
their appearance under prevailing appraisal practices and standards,
will depreciate the values of neighboring and adjoining premises as
aforesaid.
B.
The reconstruction of the areas shall be of the same material as
initially constructed, i.e., replace brick with brick not plywood,
unless the reconstruction utilizes a more attractive or better quality
of construction than previously existed.
The exterior of every structure or accessory structure, including
fences, roofs and gutters, shall be maintained in good repair, and
all surfaces thereof shall be kept painted, when necessary, for the
purpose of preservation and appearance. The same shall be maintained
free of broken glass, loose shingles, crumbling stone or brick, excessive
peeling paint or other conditions reflective of deterioration or inadequate
maintenance, to the end that the property itself may be preserved,
safety and fire hazards eliminated and the adjoining properties and
the neighborhood protected from blighting influences.
A.
Required. Owners of all residential units, including rental and nonrental
units, after the unit has been vacated, sold or where there has been
a change in occupancy, shall obtain a certificate of continuing occupancy.
This certificate of continuing occupancy shall be applied for and
secured prior to new occupancy of the property. Upon receipt by the
enforcement officer of an application for a certificate of continuing
occupancy and payment of the required fee, an inspection of the premises
shall take place. The inspection shall ensure compliance with all
applicable building, health, safety and fire codes, regulations, ordinances
and statutes of the City.
A.
Whenever
there appears to be a violation of Property Maintenance Code requirements
pertaining to heating, notice shall be given to the owner or person
in control of the premises to correct or abate such violation within
24 hours from the date of service in the notice.
[Amended 5-21-2013]
B.
Any person,
corporation or entity who violates any provisions of the heat requirements
of the Property Maintenance Code shall be subject to a fine of $250
per dwelling unit for the first offense. For the second offense within
one year, the fine shall be $500 per dwelling unit; a third offense
shall be $750 per dwelling unit; and a fourth offense shall be $1,000
per dwelling unit. A court appearance shall be required after the
first offense.
[Amended 2-16-2016]
A.
Requirements. As required by the National Standard Plumbing Code
under N.J.A.C. 5:28-1.1 et seq., every kitchen sink, lavatory and
bathtub or shower required by that chapter of the New Jersey Administrative
Code shall be connected to both hot and cold water lines, and, as
further required under N.J.A.C. 5:28-1.4(f), every dwelling unit shall
have water heating facilities which are installed and maintained in
good and safe working condition, connected with the hot water lines
required under N.J.A.C. 5:28-1.4(e) and capable of delivering water
at a minimum temperature of not less than 120° F. and at a maximum
temperature of not more than 160° F. at all times in accordance
with anticipated need.
[Amended 5-21-2013]
B.
Duty to remedy. Whenever there appears to be a violation of Subsection A above, notice shall be given to the owner or person in control of the premises to correct or abate such violation within 24 hours from the date of service in the notice.
C.
Violation; penalty. Any person, corporation or entity who violates
any provision of the hot water requirement of this section shall be
subject to a fine of $250 per dwelling unit. Court appearance shall
be required after the first offense.
[Amended 5-21-2013]
[Added 3-4-2008]
A.
Any time the Department of Health discovers the presence of vermin
in any dwelling with two or more apartments and deems it to be a public
health nuisance, the entire house/building shall be exterminated to
prevent the spread from one apartment to the next.
B.
Upon the Department of Health discovering the presence of vermin,
the property owner will be issued a notice indicating the need for
the property owner to eradicate the vermin from the property.
[1]
Editor's Note: See also Art. IV, Extermination Requirement
for Multifamily Dwellings.
[Added 3-16-2010]
A.
Seasonal restrictions.
(1)
The
replacement of a furnace; the conversion of a building from oil or
gas heat to another form of heating utility service which involves
furnace replacement; the conversion of heating utility meters from
a single master meter to individual unit meters; and the replacement
of said meters due to equipment failure (hereinafter "conversion activity")
shall only be permitted to take place between May 1 and September
30 in a calendar year.
(2)
Any
conversion activity as defined herein shall be subject to the appropriate
permitting and review by the Electrical and Plumbing Subcode Officers
of the City, and such other code officials as necessary or required
pursuant to law, and shall not obviate in any manner the responsibility
of any landlord/property owner to obtain the necessary permits and
approvals from the City in order to proceed with this work.
(3)
Any
conversion activity that is performed between October 1 and April
30 shall only be performed upon demonstration by the landlord/property
owner that such conversion activity is necessary as part of any emergency
repairs needed to restore heating service to one or more units in
the building. Said information shall be provided in advance of such
work to the Construction Code Official, and, as necessary, to the
appropriate subcode officials in the City, as part of the review process
for the permits required to proceed with any such conversion activity.
The Construction Code Official shall be authorized to make the determination
as to whether the conversion activity is necessary as part of emergency
repairs needed to restore heating service to one or more units in
the building. The Construction Code Official's determination
shall be appealable to the Board of Commissioners. In the event that
the Construction Code Official authorizes the conversion activity
in such circumstances, the landlord shall also give notice to all
tenants of the anticipated time that heating services may be suspended,
and such suspension may not exceed four hours.
B.
Conversions during term of residential tenancy.
[Added 4-20-2010]
(1)
In
cases where the residential tenant is responsible for payment for
heating services under the lease, the conversion of a building from
oil or gas heat, or vice versa, or to any other form of heating utility
service which involves furnace replacement shall not be permitted
to take place during the term of the tenancy.
(2)
Any
subsequent conversion work performed after the end of the tenancy
shall be subject to the appropriate permitting and review by the Electrical
and Plumbing Subcode Officers of the City, and such other code officials
as necessary or required pursuant to law, and shall not obviate in
any manner the responsibility of any landlord/property owner to obtain
the necessary permits and approvals from the City in order to proceed
with this work.
