[HISTORY: Adopted by the Mayor and Council of the Borough
of Closter 4-12-2017 by Ord. No. 2017:1223.[1]. Amendments noted where applicable.]
[1]
Editor's Note: This ordinance was originally adopted as Ch.
88 but was redesignated for organizational purposes.
A.Â
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained 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, partner 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.Â
Nothing in this chapter 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 chapter, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated:
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 chapter, 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 chapter.
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.
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, cooperative,
converted space, or portions 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.
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.
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 possessor right(s) within a
dwelling unit.
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, individual 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.
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.
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 any 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 chapter.
A.Â
Upon the complaint of any resident, potential violations of the provisions
of this chapter shall be investigated by the Zoning Officer, Construction
Code Official, Fire Official, Code Enforcement Officer, Health Department,
other Sub-Code or Code Official, as their jurisdiction may arise and
shall be enforced as is deemed necessary by those officials.
B.Â
A violation of this chapter 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.Â
Any person found to have violated any provision of this chapter,
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 violations shall be a new and
separate violation of this chapter.
D.Â
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 injunction, 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 Bergen County,
or in such other court or tribunal of competent jurisdiction, by either
summary disposition or by zoning or construction code municipal proceeding.
