[HISTORY: Adopted by the Township Committee of the Township of Pennsauken
3-13-1978 by Ord. No. 78-3 as Ch. 158 of the 1977 Code. Amendments noted where
applicable.]
The Construction Official of the Township of Pennsauken is hereby designated
as the officer to exercise the powers prescribed by this chapter, and the
Construction Official shall serve in such capacity without any additional
salary.
Pursuant to the provision of P.L. 1946, c. 21 (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, is hereby accepted, adopted and established as a standard to be used
as a guide in determining whether dwellings or other buildings in this municipality
are safe, sanitary and fit for human habitation and rental. A copy of the
New Jersey State Housing Code is annexed to this chapter, and three copies
of the same have been placed on file in the office of the Municipal Clerk
and are available to all persons desiring to use and examine the same.
Section 12.14 of the New Jersey State Housing Code, as it applies in
the Township of Pennsauken, shall read as follows:
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Every owner of a dwelling who permits to be occupied any dwelling unit
or lodging unit therein under any agreement, expressed or implied, to supply
or furnish heat to the occupants thereof shall supply heat adequate to maintain
therein a minimum inside temperature of 68º F. in all habitable rooms,
bathrooms and water closet compartments between the hours of 6:00 a.m. and
10:00 p.m. throughout the year.
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From the hours of 10:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. throughout the year, every
owner of a dwelling who permits to be occupied any dwelling unit or lodging
unit therein under any agreement, expressed or implied, to supply or furnish
heat to the occupants thereof shall supply heat adequate to maintain therein
a minimum inside temperature of 68º F. in all habitable rooms, bathrooms
and water closet compartments when the outside temperature falls to 55º
F. or lower.
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In meeting the aforesaid standards, the owner and/or landlord shall
not be responsible for heat loss and the consequent drop in the interior temperature
arising out of action by the occupants by leaving windows and/or doors open
to the exterior of the building.
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A.
The Construction Official is hereby authorized and directed
to make inspections to determine the condition of dwellings, dwelling units,
rooming units, commercial buildings, industrial buildings or any other building
and premises located within the Township of Pennsauken in order that he or
she may perform the duty of safeguarding the health and safety of the occupants
of the buildings or dwellings and of the general public. For the purpose of
making such inspections, the Construction Official is hereby authorized to
enter, examine and survey at all reasonable times all dwellings, dwelling
units, rooming units, commercial buildings, industrial buildings or any other
building or premises. The owner or occupant of every dwelling, dwelling unit,
rooming unit, commercial building, industrial building or any other building,
or the person in charge thereof, shall give the Construction Official free
access to such dwellings, dwelling unit, rooming unit, commercial building,
industrial building or any other building, or its premises, at all reasonable
times for the purpose of making such inspection, examination and survey.
B.
Every occupant of a dwelling, dwelling unit, rooming
unit, commercial building, industrial building or any other building shall
give the owner thereof, or his or her agent or employee, access to any part
of such dwelling, dwelling unit, rooming unit, commercial building or industrial
building, or its premises, at all reasonable times for the purpose of making
such repairs or alterations as are necessary to effect compliance with the
provision of this chapter or with any lawful rule or regulation adopted or
any lawful order issued pursuant to the provisions of this chapter.
A.
Whenever the Construction 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
or she shall give notice of such alleged violation to the person or persons
responsible therefor as hereinafter provided.
B.
Such notice shall:
(1)
Be put in writing.
(2)
Include a statement of the reasons why it is being issued.
(3)
Allow a reasonable time for the performance of any act
it requires.
(4)
Be served upon the owner or his or her agent, or the
occupant, as the case may require, provided that such 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 or her personally; or if a copy thereof
is sent by registered mail to his or her last known address; if a copy thereof
is posted in a conspicuous place in or about the dwelling affected by the
notice; or if the owner or agent is served with such notice by any other method
authorized or required under the laws of this state.
C.
Such notice may contain an outline of remedial action
which, if taken, will effect compliance with the provisions of this chapter
and with the rules and regulations adopted pursuant thereto.
A.
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 Official, provided
that such person shall file in the office of the Construction Official a written
petition requesting such hearing and setting forth a brief statement of the
grounds therefor within 10 days after the day the notice was served. Upon
receipt of such petition, the Construction Official shall set a time and place
for such hearing and shall give the petitioner written notice thereof. At
such hearing the petitioner shall be given an opportunity to be heard and
to show why such notice should be modified or withdrawn. The hearing shall
be commenced not later than 10 days after the day on which the petition was
filed, provided that, upon application of the petitioner, the Construction
Official may postpone the date of the hearing for a reasonable time beyond
the ten-day period if, in his or her judgment, the petitioner has submitted
a good and sufficient reason for such postponement.
B.
After such hearing the Construction Official shall sustain,
modify or withdraw the notice depending upon his or her findings as to whether
the provisions of this chapter and of the rules and regulations adopted pursuant
thereto have been complied with. If the Construction Official sustains or
modifies such 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 Official
within 10 days after such notice is served.
C.
The proceedings at such hearing, including the findings
and decision of the Construction Official, shall be summarized, reduced to
writing and entered as a matter of public record in the office of the Construction
Official. Such records shall also include a copy of every notice or order
issued in connection with the matter.
D.
Any person aggrieved by the decision of the Construction
Official may seek relief therefrom in any court of competent jurisdiction,
as provided by the laws of the state.
Whenever the Construction Official finds that an emergency exists which
requires immediate action to protect the public health or safety, he or she
may, without notice or hearing, issue an order reciting the existence of such
an emergency and requiring that such action be taken as he or she 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
Official, shall be afforded a hearing as soon as possible. After such hearing,
depending upon his or her findings as to whether the provisions of this chapter
and of the rules and regulations adopted thereto have been complied with,
the Construction Official shall continue such order in effect, modify it or
revoke it.
If, after such notice and hearing, the Construction Official determines
that the dwelling under consideration is unfit for human habitation, occupancy
or use, the Construction Official shall state in writing his or her findings
of fact in support of such determination and shall issue and cause to be served
upon the owner thereof and parties in interest an order requiring the owner
to:
A.
Repair, alter or improve the said building within a reasonable
time, which time shall be set forth in the order, or, at the option of the
owner, vacate or have said building vacated and closed within the time set
forth in the order.
B.
Remove or demolish the said building within a reasonable
time, as specified in the said order of removal, 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 said
building within the time specified in the order.
A.
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 Official may cause such building to be repaired, altered
or improved, or to be vacated and closed. The Construction Official may cause
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."
B.
If the owner fails to comply with an order to remove
or demolish the building, the Construction Official may cause such building
to be removed or demolished or may contract for the removal or demolition
thereof after advertisement for and receipt of bids therefor.
A.
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
municipality and the costs of such repairs, alterations or improvements, or
of vacating and closing or removal or demolition, if any, or the amount of
the balance thereof remaining after 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
Official, he or she shall sell the materials of such building. The proceeds
of any sale of such materials or any sum derived from any contract for the
removal or demolition of the building shall be credited against the cost of
the removal or demolition thereof. 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 registered mail. If the total
of the credits exceed such costs, the balance remaining shall be deposited
in the Superior Court by the Construction 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 person found to be entitled thereto
by final order or judgment of such court; provided, however, that nothing
in this section shall be construed to impair or limit in any way the power
of the municipality to define and declare nuisances and to cause their removal
or abatement, by summary proceedings or otherwise.
C.
Any owner or party in interest may, within 60 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.
Complaints or orders issued by the Construction Official pursuant to
this chapter shall be served upon persons either personally or by registered
mail, but if the whereabouts of such persons is unknown and the same cannot
be ascertained by said Construction Official in the exercise of reasonable
diligence, the said Construction Official shall make an affidavit to that
effect. The serving of such complaint or order upon such persons may be made
by publishing the same once each week for two successive weeks in a newspaper
printed and published in the Township of Pennsauken. 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 county recording office of the county
in which the dwelling is located.
The Construction Official is hereby authorized and empowered to make
and adopt such written rules and regulations as he or she may deem necessary
for the proper enforcement of the provisions of this chapter; provided, however,
that such rules and regulations shall not be in conflict with the provisions
of this chapter nor in anywise alter, amend or supersede any of the provisions
thereof. The Construction Official shall file a certified copy of all rules
and regulations which he or she may adopt in his or her office and in the
office of the Clerk of the Township of Pennsauken.
No person shall occupy as owner-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.
[Amended 9-12-1984 by Ord.
No. 84-26]
Any person, firm or corporation who shall violate any of the provisions
of this chapter shall, upon conviction, be subject to one or more of the following:
a fine not exceeding $1,250 or imprisonment in the county jail for a term
not exceeding 90 days, or a period of community service not exceeding 90 days,
in the discretion of the Municipal Court Judge. Each violation of any of the
provisions of this chapter, and each day the same is violated, shall be deemed
and taken to be a separate and distinct offense.
