[HISTORY: Adopted by the Mayor and Borough Council of the Borough of Gibbsboro 5-23-1972 by Ord. No. 72-4; amended 5-18-1982 by Ord. No. 82-2 (Ch. 101 of the 1982 Code). Subsequent amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Uniform construction codes — See Ch. 125.
Fire warning systems — See Ch. 189.
Nuisances — See Ch. 432.
In accordance with the provisions of N.J.S.A. 40:49-5.1, the New Jersey State Housing Code as approved by the Departments of Health and Conservation and Economic Development and filed in the Secretary of State's office on January 31, 1962, is hereby adopted as a standard governing supplied utilities and facilities and other physical things and conditions essential to making dwellings safe, sanitary and fit for human habitation, occupancy or use and governing the condition of dwellings. A copy of the New Jersey State Housing Code is attached to and made a part of this chapter without the text being included herein.
Three copies of the New Jersey State Housing Code have been placed on file in the office of the Clerk and will remain on file there for the use and examination by the public.
The administrative and enforcing authority for the provisions of this chapter shall be the Construction Code Official.
[1]
Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. II).
This chapter shall constitute the standards to guide the Construction Code Official in determining the fitness of any dwelling, dwelling unit, rooming unit or premises for human habitation, use or occupancy.
The Construction Code Official may make rules and regulations subject to the approval of the Council which interpret or amplify any provision of this chapter more effectively. No regulation, however, shall be inconsistent with or alter or amend any provision of this chapter, and no regulation shall impose any requirement which is in addition to or greater than the requirements that are expressly or by implication imposed by any provision of this chapter. Rules and regulations shall be subject to the same penalty as other violations of this chapter.
The Construction Code Official or his agents or employees shall make inspections to determine the condition of dwellings, dwelling units, rooming units and premises located within the Borough. This section shall not be construed to prohibit the entry of the Construction Code Official or his agents at any time when an actual emergency exists which tends to create a danger to public health or safety or at any time when an inspection is requested by an owner or occupant.
The Construction Code Official or his agents may, upon affidavit, apply to the Judge of the Municipal Court of the Borough for a search warrant, setting forth factually the actual conditions and circumstances that provide a reasonable basis for believing that a nuisance or violation of this chapter exists on the premises; and, if the Municipal Judge is satisfied as to the matter set forth in the affidavit, he shall authorize the issuance of a search warrant permitting access to and inspection of that part of the premises on which the nuisance or violation may exist. Search warrants may also be obtained in connection with a general program of inspection.
Whenever the Construction Code Official determines that there are reasonable grounds to believe that there has been a violation of any provision of this chapter or of any rule or regulation adopted pursuant thereto, he shall give notice of the alleged violation to the person or persons responsible therefor as hereinafter provided. The notice shall be put in writing, include a statement of the reasons why it is being issued, allow a reasonable time for the performance of any act it requires and be served upon the owner or his agent or the occupant, as the case may require, provided that notice shall be deemed to be properly served upon such owner or agent or upon such occupant if a copy thereof is served upon him personally, or if a copy thereof is sent by certified mail to his last known address, or if a copy thereof is posted in a conspicuous place in or about the dwelling affected by the notice, or if he is served with such notice by any other method authorized or required under the laws of this state. The notice may contain an outline of remedial action which, if taken, will effect compliance with the provisions of this chapter and with rules and regulations adopted pursuant thereto.
Any person affected by any notice which has been issued in connection with the enforcement of any provision of this chapter or of any rule or regulation adopted pursuant thereto may request and shall be granted a hearing on the matter before the Construction Code Official, provided that such person shall file in the office of the Construction Code Official a written petition requesting a hearing and setting forth a brief statement of the grounds therefor within 10 days after the day the notice is served. Upon receipt of the petition, the Construction Code Official shall set a time and place for the hearing and shall give the petitioner written notice thereof. At the hearing the petitioner shall be given an opportunity to be heard and to show why the notice should be modified or withdrawn. The hearing shall be commenced not later than 10 days after the day on which the petition is filed, provided that, upon application of the petitioner, the Construction Code Official shall sustain, modify or withdraw the notice, depending upon his findings as to whether the provisions of this chapter and the rules and regulations adopted pursuant thereto have been complied with. If the Construction Code Official sustains or modifies the notice, it shall be deemed to be an order. Any notice served pursuant to this chapter shall automatically become an order if a written petition for a hearing is not filed in the office of the Construction Code Official within 10 days after the notice is served. The proceedings at the hearings, including the findings and the decision of the Construction Code Official, shall be summarized, reduced to writing and entered as a matter of public record in the office of the Construction Code Official. The record shall also include a copy of every notice or order issued in connection with the matter. Any person aggrieved by the decision of the Construction Code Official may seek relief therefrom in any court of competent jurisdiction, as provided by the laws of the state. Whenever the Construction Code Official finds that an emergency exists which requires immediate action to protect the public health or safety, he may, without notice or hearing, issue an order reciting the existence of such emergency and requiring that such action be taken as he deems necessary to meet the emergency. Notwithstanding the other provisions of this chapter, such order shall be effective immediately. Any person to whom such order is directed shall comply therewith immediately, but upon petition to the Construction Code Official shall be afforded a hearing as soon as possible. After such hearing, depending upon his findings as to whether the provisions of this chapter and of the rules and regulations adopted pursuant thereto have been complied with, the Construction Code Official shall continue such order in effect or modify it or revoke it.
Whenever a petition is filed with the Construction Code Official by a public authority, as defined in N.J.S.A. 40:48-2.4, or by at least five residents of the Borough charging that any dwellings are unfit for human habitation, as defined in the Housing Code, or whenever it appears to the Construction Code Official on his own motion that any dwelling is unfit for human habitation, he shall, if his preliminary investigation discloses a basis for such charges, issue and cause to be served upon the owner of and parties in interest in such dwelling a complaint stating the charges in that respect and containing a notice that a hearing will be held before the Construction Code Official at a place therein fixed not less than 10 days nor more than 30 days after the serving of the complaint, that the owner and parties in interest shall be given the right to file an answer to the complaint and to appear in person or otherwise and give testimony at the time and place fixed in the complaint and that the rules of evidence prevailing in the courts of law or equity shall not be controlling in hearings before the Construction Code Official.
A. 
If after notice and hearing, as provided above, the Construction Code Official determines that the dwelling under consideration is unfit for human habitation, as defined in the Housing Code, he shall state in writing his findings of fact in support of such determination and, upon approval of the Borough Council by resolution, shall issue and cause to be served upon the owner thereof and parties in interest an order requiring:
(1) 
The repair, alteration or improvements of the building to be made by the owner within a reasonable time, which shall be set forth in the order, or, at the option of the owner, to vacate or to have the building vacated and closed within the time set forth in the order.
(2) 
If the building is in such a condition as to make it dangerous to the health and safety of persons on or near the premises and the owner fails to repair, alter or improve the building within the time specified in the order, that the owner shall remove or demolish the building within a reasonable time as specified in the order of removal.
(3) 
If the owner fails to comply with an order to repair, alter or improve, or, at the option of the owner, to vacate and close the building, the Construction Code Official may cause such buildings to be repaired, altered or improved or to be posted on the main entrance of any building so closed a placard with the following words: "This building is unfit for human habitation or occupancy or use; the use or occupation of this building is prohibited and unlawful."
(4) 
If the owner fails to comply with an order to remove or demolish the building, the Construction Code Official may cause such building to be removed or demolished or may contract for the removal or demolition thereof after advertisement and receipt of bids therefor.
(5) 
The amount of the cost of the filing of legal papers, expert witnesses' fees, search fees and advertising charges incurred in the course of any proceeding taken under this chapter determined in favor of the Borough and the cost of repairs, alterations or improvements or vacating and closing, or removal or demolition, if any, or the amounts of the balance thereof remaining after the deduction of the sum, if any, realized from the sale of materials derived from such building or from any contract for removal or demolition thereof shall be a municipal lien against the real property upon which such cost was incurred.
B. 
If the building is removed or demolished by the Construction Code Official, he shall sell the materials of such building. There shall be credited against the cost of the removal or demolition thereof the proceeds of any sale of such materials or any sum derived from any contract for the removal or demolition of the building. If there are no such credits or if the sum total of such costs exceeds the total of such credits, a detailed statement of the aforesaid costs and the amount so due shall be filed with the Municipal Tax Assessor or other custodian of the records of tax liens, and a copy thereof shall be forthwith forwarded to the owner by certified mail. If the total of the credits exceeds such other costs, the balance remaining shall be deposited in the Superior Court by the Construction Code Official, shall be secured in such manner as may be directed by such Court and shall be disbursed according to the order or judgment of the Court to the persons found to be entitled thereto by final order or judgment of such court; provided, however, that nothing in this chapter shall be construed to impair or limit in any way the power of the Borough to define and declare nuisances and to cause their removal or abatement, by summary proceedings or otherwise. Any owner or party in interest may, within 30 days from the date of the filing of the lien certificate, proceed in a summary manner in the Superior Court to contest the reasonableness of the amount or the accuracy of the costs set forth in the municipal lien certificate.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. II).
Complaints or orders issued by the Construction Code Official pursuant to this chapter shall be served upon persons either personally or by certified mail, but if the whereabouts of such persons is unknown and the same cannot be ascertained by the Construction Code Official in the exercise of reasonable diligence and the Construction Code Official shall make an affidavit to that effect, then the serving of the complaint or order upon such persons may be made by publishing the same once each week for two successive weeks in a newspaper having circulation in the Borough. A copy of such complaint or order shall be posted in a conspicuous place on the premises affected by the complaint or order, and a copy of such complaint or order shall be duly recorded or lodged for record with the Camden County recording officer.
The Construction Code Official is hereby authorized and empowered to exercise such powers as may be necessary or convenient to carry out and effectuate the purposes and provisions of this chapter, including the following, in addition to others herein granted:
A. 
To investigate the dwelling conditions in the Borough in order to determine which dwellings therein are unfit for human habitation.
B. 
To administer oaths, affirmations, examine witnesses and receive evidence.
C. 
To enter upon premises for the purpose of making examination, provided that such entries shall be made in such manner as to cause the least possible inconvenience to the persons in possession.
D. 
To appoint and fix the duties of such officers, agents and employees as he deems necessary to carry out the purpose of this chapter.
E. 
To delegate any of his functions and powers under this chapter to such officers and agents as he may designate.
No person shall occupy as owner or occupant or rent to another for occupancy any dwelling or dwelling unit for the purpose of living therein which does not conform to the provisions of the New Jersey State Housing Code established hereby as the standard to be used in determining whether a dwelling is safe, sanitary and fit for human habitation.