[HISTORY: Adopted by the Mayor and Council of the Township of Berlin 10-11-1995 by Ord. No. 1995-27A (Ch. 44 of the 1976 Code). Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Building construction — See Ch. 103.
Unfit buildings — See Ch. 112.
Property maintenance — See Ch. 249.
Streets and sidewalks — See Ch. 289.
The purpose of this chapter shall be to require the clear display of building numbers to building streets for all properties that contain principal buildings within the Township of Berlin in order to assist the general public and the authorities in identifying any property in case of an emergency as well as for the welfare of the general public in conducting their normal affairs, pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40:67-1 et seq.
The intention of this chapter is to apply retroactively and includes existing lots and buildings as well as those created after the effective date of this chapter.
All buildings, including residences and lots of land established within the Township, shall be subject to being numbered for proper identification.
A. 
The Township Tax Assessor is hereby authorized to prepare maps of the lots of land established within the Township and designate thereon a system of numbering such lots for proper identification.
B. 
The Assessor is further authorized to assign numbers to buildings erected upon such lots for proper identification.
C. 
As standards for such designation and assignment, the Assessor shall give due regard to the need for a logical and uniform sequence of assignment along the streets and roads of the Township to obtain better identification and convenience for location. Generally, numbering of a street shall begin at its intersection with a more major street and shall be numbered from "1" on the left and "2" on the right.
A. 
The property owners shall apply to the Township Tax Assessor to obtain the number assigned to the owner's building, and upon making such application, the Assessor shall issue to the applicant the number assigned to his building. No permit shall be issued for any house, building or structure until the owner thereof has ascertained the official number of the proposed or existing building from the Tax Assessor. Thereupon, the owner, occupant or agent of an owner or occupant shall place or cause to be placed upon each house or building controlled by him, the number or numbers assigned to the lot upon which it is located.
B. 
No number shall be placed upon any house or building for the purpose of this chapter, unless said number shall be that number which has been assigned under the authority of this chapter, and corresponds with the numbers placed on the records on file with the Tax Assessor.
C. 
In the absence of an application, the Township Tax Assessor is empowered to notify the property owner, occupant or agent of the owner or occupant, of the number assigned to his house or building, and it shall be the obligation of the owner, occupant or agent of an owner or occupant to affix and display the number in accordance with the specifications of this chapter and maintain in good order said numbers at all times.
A. 
The numbers used shall be Arabic, not less than three inches in height, and should be legible and made of durable and clearly visible material. Roman numerals or script may supplement this requirement but shall not be a substitute for compliance.
B. 
The numbers shall be conspicuously placed on the house door or building facade parallel to the street, or within 10 feet of either side of the main entrance to the building or over the garage door so that the number can be plainly read from the center line of the street during daylight.
C. 
When any house or building is situated more than 50 feet from the street line, the house number shall be displayed as provided in the subsection hereinabove, but the numerals shall be at least five inches in height.
D. 
Where the house or building is so situated as to not be visible to the orientation setback if it were displayed as provided above, the numbers shall be placed near the walk, driveway or entrance to such house or building and upon a gate, post, or mailbox adjacent to the driveway or walkway leading to said house or building so that it can be easily discernible from the center line of the street as indicated hereinabove. The bottom of such display shall be no less than 30 inches above the level of the ground nor shall the top of such display be more than six feet above the ground. All numbers posted pursuant to this chapter shall be of reflective material or of sufficient visual contrast to the background material to be easily discernible at night with the aid of an emergency vehicle spotlight.
This chapter shall be enforced by the Property Maintenance Official of the Township, who is empowered to order, in writing, the remedying of any condition found to exist in violation of any provision of this chapter. The owner, occupant or agent of the owner or occupant of a house or building, if a violation of any of the provisions of this chapter shall have been committed or shall exist, or the lessee or tenant of any part of the buildings or premises in which such violations shall have been committed or shall exist, or agent, architect, builder, contractor or any other person who shall commit, take part or assist in any violation or who shall maintain any building or premises in which any violation of this chapter shall exist, or the person so violating same who refuses to correct said violations within 30 days after written notice has been mailed to them, shall, for each and every violation of the provisions of this chapter, be subject to a maximum fine of not more than $100 and a minimum fine of $1 for each day of violation, plus costs. Each and every day that such a violation continues after such notice as hereinabove prescribed shall be considered a separate and specific violation of this chapter.
It is hereby directed that house numbers as provided by this chapter shall be installed, and such numbers shall be used within 90 days.