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Borough of North Haledon, NJ
Passaic County
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Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Code
New Laws (16) Index Notes (1)
[HISTORY: Adopted by the Mayor and Council of the Borough of North Haledon as indicated in article histories. Amendments noted where applicable.]
[Adopted 7-16-2008 by Ord. No. 8-2008]
Unless the context clearly indicates a different meaning, the following words or phrases, when used in this article, shall have the following meanings:
AGENT
The individual or individuals designated by the owner as the person(s) authorized by the owner to perform any duty imposed upon the owner of this article. The term does not necessarily mean a licensed real estate broker or salesman of the State of New Jersey, as those terms are defined by N.J.S.A. 45:15-3; however, such term may include a licensed real estate broker or salesman of the State of New Jersey if such person designated by the owner as his/her agent is so licensed.
APARTMENT or DWELLING
Any apartment, cottage, bungalow, any room or rooms in a rooming house/boardinghouse or other dwelling unit, consisting of one or more rooms occupying all or part of a floor in a building, whether designed with or without housekeeping facilities for dwelling purposes and notwithstanding whether the apartment be designed for residence, for office or the operation of any industry or business or for any other type of independent use. Each unit shall contain no more than one kitchen or cooking facility.
DWELLING UNIT
Any room or rooms or suite or apartment, including any room or rooms in a rooming house/boardinghouse, whether furnished or unfurnished, which is occupied or intended, arranged or designed to be occupied for sleeping or dwelling purposes by one or more persons, including but not limited to the owner thereof or any of his/her servants, agents or employees, and shall include all privileges, services, furnishings, furniture, equipment, facilities and improvements connected with use or occupancy thereof.
LICENSE
The license issued by the Construction Official or Code Enforcement Officer attesting that the rental unit has been properly registered in accordance with this article.
LICENSEE
The person to whom the license is issued pursuant to this article. The term "licensee" includes within its definition the term "agent," where applicable.
OWNER
Any person or group of persons, firm, corporation or officer thereof, partnership, association, company or trust or other legal entity who owns, operates, exercises control over or is in charge of a rental facility.
OWNER-OCCUPIED
A portion of a rental facility, dwelling, commercial unit or dwelling unit shall be considered owner-occupied if the owner makes his/her primary residence therein. A person may have only one primary residence in the Borough.
PERSON
An individual, firm, corporation, partnership, association, company, trust or other legal entity, or any combination thereof.
RENTAL FACILITY
Every building, group of buildings or a portion thereof consisting of less than three dwelling units kept, used, maintained, advertised or held out to be a place where living accommodations are supplied, whether furnished or unfurnished.
RENTAL UNIT
A dwelling unit which is available by lease, rental or otherwise to persons other than the owner. "Rental unit" shall not include that portion of a rental facility or dwelling unit that is owner-occupied.
RENT or RENTED
Occupied by any person or persons other than the owner, regardless or whether there is a written or oral agreement and regardless of whether the owner receives consideration for the occupancy.
TENANCY
Occupancy of the unit by one or more tenants.
TENANT
Occupant in a unit other than the owner.
All rental units, as defined in § 463-1 hereof, shall hereafter be registered with the Construction Official or Code Enforcement Officer on forms which shall be provided for that purpose and which shall be obtained from the Construction Official or Code Enforcement Officer. Such registration shall occur on an annual basis as provided herein.
Each rental unit shall be registered initially, yearly and with each change of occupancy. The license term shall commence on January 1 and shall be valid for a calendar year, at which time it shall expire and a new registration shall be required. All rental units must be registered initially, which shall be submitted on or before January 1, 2009.
A. 
Without in any way intending to infringe upon the requirements of N.J.S.A. 46:8-28, all rental units shall be registered and licensed as provided herein. Every owner shall file with the Construction Official or Code Enforcement Officer a registration form for each rental unit contained within a building or structure, which shall include the following information:
(1) 
The name and address of the record owner or owners of the premises and the record owner or owners of the rental business, if not the same persons, together with the telephone numbers for each of such individuals where such individual may be reached both during the day and evening hours. In the case of a partnership, corporation, company, trust or other legal entity, the name and addresses of all general partners, shareholders, members, trustees and/or principals shall be provided, together with the telephone numbers for each of such individuals where such individual may be reached both during the day and evening hours.
(2) 
If the address of any record owner is not located in the Borough of North Haledon, the name and address of a person who resides in the Borough of North Haledon and who is authorized to accept notices from a tenant and to issue receipts therefor and to accept service of process on behalf of the record owner.
(3) 
The name, address and telephone number of the agent of the premises, if any.
(4) 
The name and address, including the dwelling unit number, of the superintendent, janitor, custodian or other individual employed by the owner or agent to provide regular maintenance service, if any.
(5) 
The name, address and telephone number of an individual representative of the owner or agent or the owner who may be reached or contacted at any time in the event of emergency affecting the premises or any unit of dwelling space therein, including such emergencies as the future of any essential service or system, and who has the authority to make emergency decisions concerning the building and any repair thereto or expenditure in connection therewith.
(6) 
The name and address of every holder of a recorded mortgage on the premises.
(7) 
If fuel oil is used to heat the building, the name and address of the fuel oil dealer servicing the building and the grade of the fuel oil used.
(8) 
As to each rental unit, a specification of the exact number of sleeping rooms contained in the rental unit. In order to satisfy the requirement of this provision, an owner shall submit a floor plan, which shall become part of the application and which shall be attached to the registration form when filed by the Construction Official or Code Enforcement Officer.
(9) 
The names, ages and genders of each tenant who is to occupy the dwelling unit and the date of initial occupancy for each tenant, if applicable.
(10) 
Such other information as may be prescribed by the Borough of North Haledon.
B. 
The Construction Official or Code Enforcement Officer shall index and file the registration forms. In doing so, the Construction Official or Code Enforcement Officer shall follow the mandates of N.J.S.A. 46:8-28.1, as amended, so that the filing of the registration form will simultaneously satisfy the registration requirements of N.J.S.A. 46:8-28 to the extent that it applies to the property being registered and will also satisfy the registration requirements of this article. The owner shall post the certificate of inspection or license.
Every person required to file a registration form pursuant to this article shall file an amended registration form within 20 days after any change in the information to be included thereon. No fee is required for the filling of an amendment, except where the ownership of the premises is changed.
A. 
Each rental unit shall be inspected at least once a year.
B. 
Such inspections shall be performed by such person, persons or agency duly authorized and appointed by the Borough of North Haledon, and inspections made by persons or an agency other than the duly authorized and appointed person, persons or agency of the Borough of North Haledon shall not be used as a valid substitute.
C. 
Such inspection shall be for the purpose of determining compliance with Chapter 600, Zoning, and, to the extent applicable, to determine if the property complies with the International Building Code, New Jersey Edition, Property Maintenance Code, BOCA Maintenance Code and Housing Code and/or Uniform Fire Safety Act.
D. 
Unsatisfactory inspection. In the event that the inspection(s) of a rental unit does not result in a satisfactory inspection, such property shall not thereafter be registered, nor shall a license issue, and the owner of the property or his/her agent shall not lease or rent such property, nor shall any tenant occupy the property, until the necessary corrections have been made so as to bring the property and rental unit into compliance with the applicable code, and the property is thereafter subsequently inspected, registered and licensed. In the event that the property is occupied when such conditions are discovered, all such corrections shall be made within 30 days, and, if not made within that time period, the owner shall be deemed in violation of this article, and every day that the violation continues shall constitute a separate and distinct violation, subject to the penalty provisions of § 463-16 of this article. The owner, however, shall be permitted to apply for an extension of time to make repairs or corrections so as to comply with this article, for good cause shown, provided that such extension shall not exceed 30 days.
A. 
The inspection officers are hereby authorized to make inspections to determine the condition of rental facilities, rental units and rooming houses/boardinghouses in order that they may promote the purposes of this article to safeguard the health, safety and welfare of the occupants of rental facilities, rental units and rooming houses/boardinghouses and of the general public. For the purposes of making such inspections, the inspecting officers are hereby authorized to enter, examine and survey rental facilities, rental units and rooming houses/boardinghouses at all reasonable times. The owner or occupant of every rental facility, rental unit and rooming house/boardinghouse shall give the inspecting officer free access to the rental facility, rental unit and rooming house/boardinghouse at all reasonable times for the purpose of such inspections, examinations and surveys.
B. 
Every occupant shall give the owner of the rental facility, rental unit and rooming house/boardinghouse access to any part of such rental facility, rental unit and rooming house/boardinghouse at all reasonable times for the purpose of making such repairs or alternations, as are necessary, to effect compliance with the provisions of this article or any lawful order issued pursuant thereto.
C. 
Complaints. Within 10 days of receipt of a complaint alleging a reported violation of this article, an inspecting officer shall conduct an inspection as hereinbefore provided.
No person shall hereafter occupy any rental unit, nor shall the owner permit occupancy of any rental unit within the Borough of North Haledon, which is not registered and licensed in accordance with this article.
Upon the filing of a completed registration form and payment of the prescribed fee and a satisfactory inspection that complies in all respects with the Property Maintenance Code, BOCA Maintenance Code and Housing Code, Uniform Fire Safety Act, Code of the Borough of North Haledon and laws of the State of New Jersey, the owner shall be entitled to the issuance of a license commencing on the date of issuance and expiring on December 31 of the calendar year. A registration form shall be required for each rental unit, and license shall issue to the owner for each rental unit, if more than one rental unit is contained in the property.
At the time of the filling of the registration form, and prior to the issuance of a license, the owner or agent of the owner must pay a fee in accordance with the following:
A. 
An annual registration fee, as set forth in Chapter 275, Fees.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I).
B. 
A reinspection fee, as set forth in Chapter 275, Fees.[2]
[2]
Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I).
C. 
If the owner of the property is a senior citizen who resides in a unit of the property and rents out the remaining unit and would otherwise qualify under the State of New Jersey property tax deduction under N.J.S.A. 54:4-8.41, or if the property is occupied by a person as his/her primary residence and possesses a life estate interest in and to said property, there shall be no fee.
[Amended 3-18-2009 by Ord. No. 6-2009; 8-17-2011 by Ord. No. 21-2011]
D. 
If any fee is not paid within 30 days of its due date, a late fee surcharge as set forth in Chapter 275, Fees, will be assessed, per month, up to 90 days. A failure to pay the initial fee and any late fee shall be deemed a violation of this article.[3]
[3]
Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I).
E. 
A failure to pay any fee as required by this article shall be deemed a violation of this article.
Every owner shall provide each occupant or tenant occupying a rental unit with a copy of the registration form required by this article. This particular provision shall not apply to any hotel, motel or guest house registered with the State of New Jersey, pursuant to the Hotels and Multiple Dwellings Act, as defined in N.J.S.A. 55:13A-3. This provision may be complied with by posting a copy of the registration certificate in a conspicuous place within the rental unit(s).
A. 
The maximum number of occupants, as determined by the Construction Code Official, shall be posted in each rental unit. It shall be unlawful for any person, including the owner, agent, tenant or registered tenant, to allow a greater number of persons than the posted maximum number of occupants to sleep in or occupy overnight the rental unit for a period exceeding 29 days. Any person violating this provision shall be subject to the penalty provisions of § 463-16 of this article.
B. 
Only those occupants whose names are on file with the Borough of North Haledon, as required in this article, may reside in the licensed premises. It shall be unlawful for any other person to reside in said premises, and any owner, agent, tenant or registered tenant allowing a nonregistered party to reside in said premises shall be in violation of this section and shall be subject to the penalty provisions of § 463-16 of this article.
No rental unit may be registered and no license shall issue for a property containing a rental unit unless all municipal taxes, water and sewer charges and any other municipal assessments are paid on a current basis.
A. 
Occupants. Only those occupants whose names are on file with the Construction Official or Code Enforcement Officer, as provided in this article, may reside in the licensed premises. It shall be unlawful for any other person to reside in said premises, and this provision may be enforced against the landlord, tenant or other person residing in said premises.
B. 
Nuisance prohibited. No rental facility shall be conducted in a manner which shall result in any unreasonable disturbance or disruption to the surrounding properties and property owners or the public in general such that it shall constitute a nuisance, as defined in the ordinances of the Borough of North Haledon.
C. 
Compliance with other laws. The maintenance of all rental facilities and the conduct engaged in upon the premises by occupants and their guests shall at all times be in full compliance with all applicable ordinances and regulations of the Borough of North Haledon and with all applicable state and federal laws.
D. 
Penalties. Any landlord, tenant or other person violating the provisions of this section shall be subject to the penalty provisions of § 463-16 of this article.
A. 
Grounds. In addition to any other penalty prescribed herein, an owner may be subject to the revocation or suspension of the license issued hereunder upon the happening of one or more of the following:
(1) 
Conviction of a violation of this article in the Municipal Court or any other court of competent jurisdiction.
(2) 
Determination of a violation of this article at a hearing held pursuant to Subsection B herein.
(3) 
Continuously permitting the rental unit to be occupied by more than the maximum number of occupants as defined in this article.
(4) 
Maintaining the rental unit or units or the property in which the rental unit is a part in a dangerous condition likely to result in injury to person or property.
B. 
Procedure; written complaint; notice; hearing.
(1) 
A complaint seeking the revocation or suspension of a license may be filed by any one or more of the following: Chief of Police, Construction Code Official, the Zoning Enforcement Officer or any other persons or office authorized to file such a complaint. Such complaint shall be in writing and filed with the Construction Official or Code Enforcement Officer. The complaint shall be specific and shall be sufficient to apprise the licensee of the charges so as to permit the licensee to present a defense. The individual(s) filling the complaint may do so on the basis of information and belief and need not rely on personal information.
(2) 
Upon the filing of such written complaint, the Construction Official or Code Enforcement Officer shall immediately inform the Mayor and Council, and a date for a hearing shall be scheduled, which shall not be sooner than 10 nor more than 30 days thereafter. The Construction Official or Code Enforcement Officer shall forward a copy of the complaint and a notice, as to the date of the hearing, to the licensee and the agent, if any, at the address indicated on the registration form. Service upon the agent shall be sufficient.
(3) 
The hearing required by this section shall be held before the Mayor and Council, unless, in its discretion, the Mayor and Council determines that the matter should be heard by a hearing officer, who shall be appointed by the Mayor and Council. If the matter is referred to a hearing officer, such officer shall transmit his/her findings of fact and conclusions of law to the Mayor and Council within 30 days of the conclusion of the hearing. The Mayor and Council shall then review the matter and may accept, reject or modify the recommendations of the hearing officer based on the record before such hearing officer. In the event that the matter is not referred to a hearing officer and is heard by the Mayor and Council, then the Mayor and Council shall render a decision within 30 days of the conclusion of the hearing. Following the hearing, a decision shall be rendered dismissing the complaint, revoking or suspending the license or determining that the license shall not be renewed or reissued for one or more subsequent license years.
(4) 
A stenographic transcript shall be made of the hearing. All witnesses shall be sworn prior to testifying. The strict rules of evidence shall not apply, and the evidential rules and burden of proof shall be that which generally controls administrative hearings.
(5) 
The Borough Attorney or his/her designee shall appear and prosecute on behalf of the complainant in all hearings conducted pursuant to this section.
C. 
Defenses. It shall be a defense to any proceeding for the revocation, suspension or other disciplinary action involving a rental license by demonstrating that the owner has taken appropriate action and has made a good faith effort to abate the conditions or circumstances giving rise to the revocation proceeding, including but not limited to the institution of legal action against the tenant(s), occupant(s) or guests for recovery of the premises, eviction of the tenant(s) or otherwise.
A. 
Any person violating or failing to comply with any provision of this article shall, upon conviction thereof, be punishable as provided in Chapter 1, General Provisions, Article II, General Penalty. The continuation of such violation for each successive day shall constitute a separate offense, and the person or persons allowing or permitting the continuation of the violation may be punished as provided above for each separate offense.
[Amended 10-15-2014 by Ord. No. 22-2014]
B. 
The violation of any provision of this article shall be subject to abatement summarily by a restraining order or injunction issued by a court of competent jurisdiction.
[Adopted 12-7-2016 by Ord. No. 22-2016]
The Borough Council of the Borough of North Haledon hereby finds and adopts, as if set forth more fully herein, the fact assertions of the "Whereas" clauses of this article, as its findings of fact.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: The "Whereas" clauses referred to herein are contained in Ord. No. 22-2016, a copy of which is on file in the Borough offices.
A. 
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Borough Code, it shall be unlawful for an owner, lessor, sublessor, any other person(s) or entity(ies) with possessory or use right(s) in a dwelling unit, their principals, partners or shareholders, or their agents, employees, representatives and other person(s) or entity(ies), acting in concert or a combination thereof, to receive or obtain actual or anticipated consideration for soliciting, advertising, offering, and/or permitting, allowing, or failing to discontinue the use or occupancy of any dwelling unit, as defined herein, for a period of 30 days or less.
B. 
Nothing in this article will prevent formation of an otherwise lawful occupancy of a dwelling unit for a rental period of more than 30 days.
As used in this article, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
ADVERTISE or ADVERTISING
Any form of solicitation, promotion, and communication for marketing, used to solicit, encourage, persuade, or manipulate viewers, readers, or listeners into contracting for goods and/or services in violation of this article, as same may be viewed through various media including, but not limited to, newspapers, magazines, flyers, handbills, pamphlets, commercials, radio, direct mail, Internet websites, or text or other electronic messages for the purpose of establishing occupancies or uses of rental property, for consideration, which are prohibited by this article.
CONSIDERATION
Soliciting, charging, demanding, receiving or accepting any legally recognized form of consideration including a promise or benefit, a quid pro quo, rent, fees, other form of payment, or thing of value.
DWELLING UNIT
Any structure, or portion thereof, whether furnished or unfurnished, which is occupied in whole or in part, or intended, arranged or designed to be occupied, for sleeping, dwelling, cooking, gathering and/or entertaining, as a residential occupancy, by one or more persons. This definition includes an apartment, condominium, building, co-operative, converted space, or potions thereof, that is offered to use, made available for use, or is used for accommodations, lodging, cooking, sleeping, gathering and/or entertaining of occupants and/or guest(s), for consideration, for a period of 30 days or less.
HOUSEKEEPING UNIT
Constitutes a family-type situation, involving one or more persons, living together that exhibit the kind of stability, permanency and functional lifestyle equivalent to that of a traditional family unit, as further described in the applicable reported and unreported decisions of the New Jersey Superior Court.
OCCUPANT
Any individual using, inhabiting, living, gathering, entertaining, being entertained as a guest, or sleeping in a dwelling unit, or portion thereof, or having other permission or possessory right(s) within a dwelling unit.
OWNER
Any person(s) or entity(ies), association, limited liability company, corporation, or partnership, or any combination, who legally use, possess, own, lease, sublease or license (including an operator, principal, shareholder, director, agent, or employee, individually or collectively) that has charge, care, control, or participates in the expenses and/or profit of a dwelling unit pursuant to a written or unwritten agreement, rental, lease, license, use, occupancy agreement or any other agreement.
PERSON
An individual, firm, corporation, association, partnership, limited liability company, association, entity, and any person(s) and/or entity(ies) acting in concert or any combination therewith.
RESIDENTIAL OCCUPANCY
The use of a dwelling unit by an occupant(s).
The residential occupancy of an otherwise lawful and lawfully occupied dwelling unit for a period of 30 days or less by a person who is a member of the housekeeping unit of the owner, without consideration, such as house guests, is permitted.
It shall be unlawful to advertise, solicit or promote by any means actions in violation of this article.
A. 
The provisions of this article shall be enforced by the Zoning Official, Fire Official and/or other Subcode or Code Official, as their jurisdiction may arise, including other persons designated by the Borough Council to issue municipal civil infractions directing alleged violators of this article to appear in court or to file civil complaints.
B. 
A violation of this article is hereby declared to be a public nuisance, a nuisance per se, and is hereby further found and declared to be offensive to the public health, safety and welfare.
C. 
Any person found to have violated any provision of this article, without regard to intent or knowledge, shall be liable for the maximum civil penalty, upon adjudicated violation or admission, of a fine not exceeding $1,250. Each day of such violation shall be a new and separate violation of this article.
D. 
The penalty imposed herein shall be in addition to any and all other remedies that may accrue under any other law, including, but not limited to, eviction proceedings and/or inunction, reasonable attorney's fees or other fees and costs, in the Borough's Municipal Court or the Superior Court of New Jersey in the vicinage of Passaic County, or in such other Court, or tribunal of competent jurisdiction, by either summary disposition or by zoning or construction code municipal proceeding.
If any portion of this article is adjudged unconstitutional or invalid by a court of competent jurisdiction, such judgment shall not affect or invalidate the remainder of this article but shall be confined in its effect to the provision directly involved in the controversy in which such judgment shall have been rendered.