[Adopted 4-1-1987[1]]
[1]
Editor's Note: This ordinance superseded former
Art. II, Certificates of Occupancy, adopted 6-19-1985.
The Building Inspector or his designee inspector
shall be hereby designated as the officer to exercise the powers prescribed
by this article and to enforce the provisions thereof.
[Amended 6-7-2023 by Ord. No. 2023-15]
A.
No owner or no person or entity on behalf of the owner
of a dwelling unit, rooming unit, apartment or premises may rent to
a tenant said premises unless a certificate of rental occupancy is
previously issued by the Building Inspector or a duly authorized delegate.
Such certificate shall state that the dwelling is fit for human habitation
and is in compliance with all ordinances of the Borough of Longport
and all applicable laws of the State of New Jersey.
B.
No dwelling shall be occupied in whole or in part by any person or
persons until the Building Inspector or a duly authorized delegate
shall issue a certificate of rental occupancy. For long-term rentals
(defined as the rental of a property or unit for one year or more),
inspection shall be required prior to the initial rental period. If
occupancy is continuous by the same renter, then reinspection shall
be required every three years or upon change of occupancy. For short-term
rentals (defined as any rental of a property or unit for less than
one year), inspection shall be required annually.
C.
The Building Inspector, for the purposes of this provision, may designate
a duly authorized delegate member of the Building Department to conduct
inspections and issue a certificate.
No certificate of rental occupancy shall be
issued where an inspection discloses that the dwelling is unfit for
human habitation or where conditions exist therein which are dangerous
to the health, safety or welfare of the occupants thereof or of the
residents of the municipality. Such conditions may include but are
not limited to those which create a fire hazard, danger of accident
or casualty, lack of adequate ventilation, lack of light or sanitary
facilities, dilapidation, disrepair or structural defects, uncleanliness
and the like.
[Amended 6-7-2023 by Ord. No. 2023-15]
The Building Inspector or a duly authorized
delegate shall cause to be prepared an appropriate form for application
for a certificate of rental occupancy, which form shall be available
to applicants at the office of the Building Inspector. It shall be
the duty of the Building Inspector or a duly authorized delegate to
conduct an inspection of the dwelling within 10 days of the date that
the application is filed in the office of the Building Inspector.
Thereafter, the Building Inspector or a duly authorized delegate shall
issue a certificate of rental occupancy or notify the applicant, in
writing, as to the reasons why such certificate has not been issued.
However, failure of the Building Inspector or a duly authorized delegate
to conduct his inspection within the time period stated herein shall
not permit any applicant to rent any dwelling without the issuance
of a certificate of rental occupancy.
[Amended 5-16-2001 by Ord. No. 2001-06; 12-17-2003 by Ord. No. 2003-17]
The fee for each application for a certificate
of rental occupancy is $75.
A "dwelling," as that term is used in this article,
shall not include any rental room or suite of rooms in a motel or
hotel unless the room or suite rented in said hotel or motel shall
contain eating and cooking facilities. For the purpose of determining
residency, any person who sleeps upon the premises or generally dwells
therein for one month or longer shall be considered to be residing
in the premises.
Any person, firm or corporation who or which
shall violate any of the provisions of this article shall, upon conviction,
be punished by a fine not to exceed $250 or by imprisonment for a
term not exceeding 30 days, or both. A separate offense shall be deemed
committed on each day during or on which a violation occurs and continues.
