[Adopted by Ord. No. 15-1998 (Secs. 15.20.180 and 15.20.190 of the 1996 Municipal Code)]
Unless the context clearly indicates a different meaning, the following words or phrases when used in this article shall have the following meanings:
AGENT
The individual or individuals designated by the owner as the person(s) authorized by the owner or the landlord to perform any duty imposed upon the owner or the landlord by this article or under law for the operation of a rental unit or units. The term does not necessarily mean a licensed real estate broker or salesperson as those terms are defined by N.J.S.A. 45:15-3; however, such term may include a licensed real estate broker or salesperson if such person designated by the owner as his agent is so licensed. The agent shall be the person responsible for repairs, maintenance and tenant inquiries and shall be responsible for receiving notice of violation of this chapter.
[Amended 11-10-2020 by Ord. No. 15-2020]
APARTMENT COMPLEX
Two or more buildings, each containing two or more apartments, which are located within close proximity of each other and are owned by the same owner.
APARTMENT or DWELLING
Any apartment, cottage, bungalow, single-family dwelling, any room or rooms in a rooming house or boardinghouse or other dwelling unit consisting of one or more rooms occupying all or part of a floor or floors in a building, whether designed with or without housekeeping facilities for dwelling purposes, and notwithstanding whether the apartment be designed for residence, for office, or the operation of any industry or business, or for any other type of independent use.
CHANGE IN TENANCY
A change in the tenant renting a rental unit.
LANDLORD
The individual person, persons or the legal entity listed upon the title as it appears in the public records after the deed is properly recorded.
[Added 9-16-2008 by Ord. No. 17-2008; amended 11-10-2020 by Ord. No. 15-2020]
LANDLORD REGISTRATION
A registration issued by the City of Burlington which sets forth the data and information of the owner of the property and providing that entity of the registration with information to maintain, operate, or otherwise conduct the business of landlord in the City of Burlington.
[Added 9-16-2008 by Ord. No. 17-2008; amended 4-9-2019 by Ord. No. 03-2019]
OWNER
Any person or group of persons, firm, corporation or officer thereof, partnership, association, or trust who owns, operates, exercises control over or is in charge of a rental facility.
PERSON
An individual, firm, corporation, partnership, association, trust or other legal entity, or any combination thereof.
PROPERTY MANAGEMENT ACTION PLAN (PMAP)
A plan developed between the Mayor or his designee and the landlord to ensure compliance with all applicable local, state, and federal laws as more specifically set forth in § 195-43D of this article.
[Added 9-16-2008 by Ord. No. 17-2008]
REGISTRATION
The registration issued by the Landlord Registration Department attesting that the rental unit has been properly registered in accordance with this article and inspected for a registration certificate.
[Amended 9-16-2008 by Ord. No. 17-2008; 4-9-2019 by Ord. No. 03-2019]
REGISTREE
The person to whom the registration is issued pursuant to this article. The term "registration" includes within its definition the term "agent" where applicable.
[Amended 4-9-2019 by Ord. No. 03-2019]
RENTAL FACILITY
Every building, group of buildings or a portion thereof which is kept, used, maintained, advertised or held out to be a place where living accommodations are supplied, whether furnished or unfurnished, for pay or other consideration, to one or more individuals and is meant to include apartments and apartment complexes.
RENTAL UNIT
A dwelling unit which is available for lease or rental purposes and is meant to include individual apartments located within apartment complexes.
RENTAL UNIT
Any residential dwelling unit occupied by persons other than the landlord and for which rent is paid to the landlord thereof, including individual units in all types of dwellings defined in this section, including boardinghouses, lodging houses, tourist houses, habitable rooms, multifamily apartment houses, residence buildings and rooming houses.
[Added 9-16-2008 by Ord. No. 17-2008]
All rental units shall hereafter be registered with the Municipal Clerk on forms which shall be provided for that purpose and which shall be obtained from the Municipal Clerk's office. Such registration shall occur on an annual basis as provided herein.
[Amended 9-16-2008 by Ord. No. 17-2008; 4-7-2009 by Ord. No. 10-2009; 6-14-2011 by Ord. No. 05-2011; 4-9-2019 by Ord. No. 03-2019]
Each rental unit shall be registered annually and inspected upon each change in tenancy and biennially. The registration shall expire one year from the date of issuance. Any lease which has been executed prior to the adoption this article shall not be affected but the rental unit must nevertheless be registered and inspected in accordance with this article. No rental unit shall hereafter be rented unless the rental unit is registered in accordance with this article.
A. 
Registration of landlords.
(1) 
In addition to any other requirements herein, each landlord, as defined at § 195-27, of residential real property shall file with the appropriate office within the City of Burlington a landlord registration in a form prescribed by the City of Burlington within 60 days of the publication of this article.
(2) 
No landlord shall be entitled to rent a rental unit unless said landlord has filed with the City of Burlington a valid landlord registration for that property in accordance with this chapter of the Code for the City of Burlington.
(3) 
The requirements for annual landlord registration shall be as set forth in Chapter 146 and as set forth in § 195-30.
[Amended 11-10-2020 by Ord. No. 15-2020]
(4) 
A landlord registration must be renewed annually.
(5) 
Landlord registrations are not transferable to other entities or parties.
(6) 
The Mayor or his designee shall develop the form for registry required by this article, which shall require the landlord to provide the information set forth at § 195-30 and such other information as the Mayor or his designee shall deem necessary and proper for the health, safety and well being of the residents of the City of Burlington.
(7) 
A landlord possessing a landlord registration shall be required to advise the Mayor or his designee of any change in the information on the application for such registration within 30 days of any such change.
(8) 
Replacement of lost or destroyed registrations, certificates, or certifications will be subject to a replacement fee as set forth in the fee schedule in Chapter 146, Fee Schedule.
(9) 
The landlord must identify its agent on the registration form and provide accurate, current information as to the name, office address, telephone number and email information of the agent in order for tenants and the City to contact the agent for information. The agent is the individual who exercises control of a rental facility, building and/or structures, for the purpose of authorizing repairs and maintenance, and shall be responsible for receiving notices of violation of this chapter, who exercises control of a rental facility, building and/or structures, and/or fulfilling the responsibility of the owner of a rental facility to correct such violation. The agent may be the owner(s) of the unit. The agent must reside in the County of Burlington.
[Added 11-10-2020 by Ord. No. 15-2020]
B. 
Registration of rental units.
(1) 
All rental units within the City shall hereafter be registered with the Mayor or his designee. Such registration shall occur immediately upon the adoption of this article and upon every change in occupancy; however, if there has not been a change in occupancy in two years, then the owner of a rental unit shall register on the first of January following the expiration of the two-year period. Upon registration, a registration certificate shall be issued by the City.
(2) 
No rental unit shall be occupied by tenants unless a valid registration certificate has been issued by the City.
(3) 
The Mayor or his designee shall develop the applicable registration form required by this article, which shall require the landlord to provide the information set forth at § 195-30 and such other information as the Mayor or his designee shall deem necessary and proper in order to properly register the rental unit.
(4) 
Any lease which has been executed prior to the adoption of this article shall not be affected, but the rental unit must nevertheless be registered and inspected in accordance with this article. No rental unit shall hereafter be rented unless the rental unit is registered in accordance with this article.
C. 
Tenant screening reports.
(1) 
At each change of occupancy of any rental unit, the registered landlord of the rental unit shall conduct a tenant screening for the new inhabitants of the rental unit. Such screening shall include the substantial equivalent of the following:
(a) 
A check for activity in the Landlord/Tenant Section of the Special Civil Part of the Superior Court of the State of New Jersey for the county of the tenant's last residence for a period of three years.
(b) 
All records of any conviction for any offense in the municipal court of the municipality of the resident's last residence for a period of three years.
(c) 
All records of any conviction for any offense in the Superior Court of the State of New Jersey of the resident's last residence for a period of three years.
(d) 
Subsection C(1)(b) and (c) above shall apply to the tenant(s) and all authorized adult members of the tenant's household.
(2) 
Proof of an adequate screening shall be a letter addressed to the Mayor or his designee indicating such a screening by a reputable tenant screening company or organization. Such a letter must be dated and shall be prepared by a screening company or organization.
(3) 
No registration certificate shall be deemed complete unless proof of an adequate screening has been provided.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Former Subsection C(4), which entitled landlords to a $25 reduction in fees upon presentation at time of registration, which immediately followed this subsection, was repealed 5-11-2021 by Ord. No. 12-2021]
[Amended 4-9-2019 by Ord. No. 03-2019; 11-10-2020 by Ord. No. 15-2020]
Without in any way intending to infringe upon the requirements of N.J.S.A. 46:8-28, all rental units shall be registered as provided herein. Every owner shall file with the appropriate office within the City of Burlington a registration form for each unit contained within a building or structure which shall include the following information:
A. 
The location of the building;
B. 
The portion of the building to be used as a rental facility with the number of dwelling units;
C. 
The full name (first and last), age and address, including the dwelling unit number, of each authorized occupant or tenant occupying the rental unit;
D. 
The name and address of the record owner or owners of the premises and the record owner or owners of the rental business if not the same persons. In the case of a partnership, the names and addresses of all general partners shall be provided, together with the telephone numbers for each of such individuals indicating where such individual may be reached both during the day and evening hours. If the record owner is a corporation, the name and address of the registered agent and corporate officers of the corporation, together with the telephone numbers for each of such individuals indicating where such individual may be reached both during the day and evening hours;
E. 
If the address of any record owner is not located in the City or in Burlington County, the landlord must designate and provide the name and contact information of a person who resides in Burlington County and who is the registered agent for the landlord who is fully authorized by the landlord to accept notices from a tenant and to issue receipts therefor and to accept service of process on behalf of the record owner;
F. 
The name, address, telephone number and email address of the registered agent of the premises, if any;
G. 
The names and addresses, including dwelling unit numbers, of the superintendent, janitor, custodian and other individual employed by the owner or agent to provide regular maintenance service, if any;
H. 
The name, address and telephone number of an individual representative of the owner or agent who may be reached or contacted at any time in the event of an emergency affecting the premises or any unit of dwelling space therein, including such emergencies as the future of any essential service or system, and who has the authority to make emergency decisions concerning the building and any repair thereto or expenditure in connection therewith;
I. 
The name and address of every holder of a recorded mortgage on the premises;
J. 
If fuel oil is used to heat the building and the landlord furnishes the heat in the building, the name and address of the fuel oil dealer servicing the building and the grade of fuel oil used;
K. 
As to each rental unit, a specification of the exact number of sleeping rooms contained in the rental unit. In order to satisfy the requirement of this subsection, an owner shall include a floor plan as part of the application, which shall be attached to the registration form by the Municipal Clerk;
L. 
Any changes in information required to be included in the registration, including but not limited to a change in the occupants or their number or a change in the identity of the owner, operator and/or registered agent, will require an amended registration to be filed within seven days, notwithstanding the provisions of this chapter.
M. 
Every person required to file a registration form pursuant to this chapter shall file an amended registration form within seven days after any change in the information required to be included thereon. No fee shall be required for the filing of an amendment except where the ownership of the premises is changed.
N. 
Providing registration form to occupants and tenants. Every owner shall provide each occupant or tenant occupying a rental unit with a copy of the registration form required by this chapter. This particular provision shall not apply to any hotel, motel or guest house registered with the State of New Jersey pursuant to the Hotels and Multiple Dwellings Act as defined in N.J.S.A. 55:13A-3. This provision may be complied with by posting a copy of the registration certificate in a conspicuous place within the rental unit(s).
O. 
Such other information as may be prescribed by the City.
The Municipal Clerk shall index and file the registration forms and make them reasonably available for public inspection. In doing so the Municipal Clerk shall follow the mandates of N.J.S.A. 46:8-28.1, as amended and supplemented, so that the filing of the registration form will simultaneously satisfy the registration requirements of N.J.S.A. 46:8-28 to the extent that it applies to the property being registered and will also satisfy the registration requirements of this article.
Every person required to file a registration form pursuant to this article shall file an amended registration form within 20 days after any change in the information required to be included thereon. No fee shall be required for the filing of an amendment except where the ownership or tenancy of the premises is changed.
A. 
Each rental unit shall be inspected at least once in every twenty-four-month period, and upon each change in tenancy, for purposes of the issuance of a registration certificate.
[Amended 9-16-2008 by Ord. No. 17-2008]
B. 
Such inspection shall be performed by such person, persons or agency duly authorized and appointed by the City pursuant to the direction of the Director of the Department of Housing and Community Development or the Construction Official. Inspections made by persons or an agency other than the duly authorized and appointed person, persons or agency of the City shall not be used as a valid substitute.
C. 
Such inspection shall be for purpose of determining compliance, with Chapter 207, Article VII, Zoning, of the Code of the City of Burlington, and to the extent applicable, to determine if the property complies with the Property Maintenance Code, Uniform Construction Code, the current City Property Maintenance Code, housing code and/or building code and the Uniform Fire Safety Act. Upon compliance, the Construction Official shall cause to be issued a registration certificate pursuant to § 195-6.
[Amended 9-16-2008 by Ord. No. 17-2008; 6-14-2011 by Ord. No. 05-2011]
D. 
Unsatisfactory inspection. In the event that the inspection(s) of a rental unit indicates the need for maintenance and/or repairs, such property shall not thereafter be registered, and the landlord of the property, or his agent, shall not lease or rent such property, nor shall any tenant occupy the property until the necessary maintenance, repairs and corrections have been made so as to bring the property and rental unit into compliance with the applicable code(s) and the property is thereafter subsequently reinspected, approved and registered. In the event that the property is occupied when such conditions are discovered, all such corrections shall be made within 30 days, and if not made within that time period, the owner shall be deemed in violation of this article and every day that the violation continues shall constitute a separate and distinct violation, subject to the penalty provisions of § 195-44 of this article.
[Amended 9-16-2008 by Ord. No. 17-2008; 4-9-2019 by Ord. No. 03-2019]
A. 
The inspection officers are hereby authorized to make inspections to determine the condition of rental facilities, rental units and rooming houses or boardinghouses in order that they may promote the purposes of this article to safeguard the health, safety and welfare of the occupants of rental facilities, rental units and rooming houses/boardinghouses and of the general public. For the purpose of making such inspections, the inspecting officers shall be vested with the authority set forth in § 195-5. The owner or occupant of every rental facility, rental unit and rooming house or boardinghouse shall give the inspecting officer free access to the rental facility, rental unit and rooming house or boardinghouse at all reasonable times for the purpose of such inspections, examinations and surveys.
B. 
Every occupant shall give the owner of the rental facility, rental unit and rooming house or boardinghouse access to any part of such rental facility, rental unit and rooming house or boardinghouse at all reasonable times for the purpose of making such repairs or alterations as are necessary to effect compliance with the provisions of this article or any lawful order issued pursuant thereto.
C. 
Complaints. Within 10 days of receipt of a complaint alleging a reported violation of this article, an inspecting officer shall conduct an inspection as hereinbefore provided.
[Amended 9-16-2008 by Ord. No. 17-2008; 4-9-2019 by Ord. No. 03-2019]
No person shall hereafter occupy any rental unit, nor shall the owner permit occupancy of any rental unit within the City, which is not registered and for which a registration certificate has not been issued in accordance with this article.
[Amended 4-9-2019 by Ord. No. 03-2019]
Upon the filing of a completed registration form, payment of the prescribed fee, and a satisfactory inspection, the owner shall be entitled to the issuance of a registration commencing on the date of issuance and expiring on the same date of the next calendar year. A registration form shall be required for each rental unit, and a registration shall be issued to the owner for each rental unit, even if more than one rental unit is contained in the property.
[Amended 9-16-2008 by Ord. No. 17-2008; 4-7-2009 by Ord. No. 10-2009]
A. 
At the time of registration of a rental unit as required by § 195-29B, and prior to the issuance of a registration certificate, the landlord or agent thereof must pay a fee in accordance with the following schedule for the purpose of having the rental unit inspected by the City and having the City issue the registration certificate:
(1) 
Upon initial registration and following the expiration of every two-year period thereafter, a fee as set forth in the fee schedule in Chapter 146, Fee Schedule, shall be assessed which includes an inspection and one subsequent reinspection (to be completed within 30 days of a failed initial inspection).
(2) 
Any change of occupancy, except those changes of occupancies specified during the initial registration or upon each subsequent two-year inspection, shall be assessed a fee as set forth in the fee schedule in Chapter 146, Fee Schedule, which includes an inspection and one subsequent reinspection (to be completed within 30 days of a failed inspection).
(3) 
Any subsequent reinspection conducted in excess of those specified in Subsection A(1) and (2) above shall be assessed a fee as set forth in the fee schedule in Chapter 146, Fee Schedule, (to be completed within 30 days of most recent reinspection).
(4) 
Should an inspector arrive for a scheduled inspection and no person over the age of 18 is present to grant access to the rental unit, the full amount of the inspection fee shall be charged, and the landlord will be required to reschedule the inspection at a fee as set forth in the fee schedule in Chapter 146, Fee Schedule.
[Amended 4-9-2019 by Ord. No. 03-2019]
(5) 
Fees not paid shall be subject to a late fee as set forth in the fee schedule in Chapter 146, Fee Schedule.
[Amended 4-9-2019 by Ord. No. 03-2019]
(6) 
Fees set forth in this subsection shall be modified by resolution of the Common Council.[1]
[1]
Editor’s Note: Former Subsection A(7), regarding expedited fees, which immediately followed, was repealed 4-9-2019 by Ord. No. 03-2019.
B. 
Repairs not completed within 30 days of reinspection shall result in the issuance of a court summons. Requests for extensions shall be in writing demonstrating compelling reasons for the need for such extension. The grant of such extension is subject to the City's discretion.
Every owner shall provide each occupant or tenant occupying a rental unit with a copy of the registration form required by this article. This particular provision shall not apply to any hotel, motel or guesthouse registered with the State of New Jersey pursuant to the Hotel and Multiple Dwelling Act as defined in N.J.S.A. 55:13A-3. This section may be complied with by posting a copy of the registration certificate in a conspicuous place within the rental unit(s).
A. 
The maximum number of occupants shall be posted in each rental unit. It shall be unlawful for any person, including the owner, agent, tenant or registered tenant, to allow a greater number of persons than the posted maximum number of occupants to sleep in or occupy overnight the rental unit for a period exceeding 14 days. Any person violating this section shall be subject to the penalty provisions of § 195-44 of this article.
[Amended 11-10-2020 by Ord. No. 15-2020]
B. 
Only those occupants whose names are on file with the City as required in this section may reside in the registered premises. It shall be unlawful for a nonregistered person to reside in said premises and any owner, agent, tenant or registered tenant allowing a nonregistered person to reside in said premises and the nonregistered person, shall be in violation of this subsection.
[Amended 4-9-2019 by Ord. No. 03-2019]
[Amended 4-9-2019 by Ord. No. 03-2019]
No rental unit may be registered and shall issue for any property containing a rental unit unless all municipal taxes, water and sewer charges and any other municipal assessments are paid on a current basis.
[Amended 6-14-2011 by Ord. No. 05-2011]
All dwelling units shall be maintained in accordance with the Uniform Construction Code and the current City Property Maintenance Code.
A. 
Nuisance prohibited. No rental facility shall be conducted in a manner which shall result in any unreasonable disturbance or disruption to the surrounding properties and property owners or of the public in general, such that it shall constitute a nuisance as defined in the ordinances of the City.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: See Ch. 239, Nuisances.
B. 
Compliance with other laws. The maintenance of all rental facilities and the conduct engaged in upon the premises by occupants and their guests shall at all times be in full compliance with all applicable ordinances and regulations of the City and with all applicable state and federal laws.
[Amended 9-16-2008 by Ord. No. 17-2008; 4-9-2019 by Ord. No. 03-2019]
A. 
Violation of landlord registrations. In order to validly possess a landlord registration and any subsequently issued registration certificate, a landlord shall comply with all applicable local, state, and federal laws relating to the renting of residential rental units. A landlord may be found in violation of a landlord registration upon the happening of the following nonexclusive events:
(1) 
The landlord or any partner or corporate officer of the landlord or the manager or other agent of the rental unit sought to be operated under the landlord registration has refused inspection of a rental unit and its premises by public authorities acting pursuant to law;
(2) 
The landlord obtained a landlord registration certificate through fraud, collusion or illegality;
(3) 
The landlord or any partner or corporate officer, including a partner, member, officer, or principal in a corporate or business entity registered as the landlord, who has been denied a registration in any municipality, county, or state or had a registration revoked or suspended in connection with maintaining, operating or conducting the business of a landlord in any municipality, county, or state;
[Amended 11-10-2020 by Ord. No. 15-2020]
(4) 
The landlord or any partner or corporate officer has been convicted of a felony in connection with maintaining, operating, or conducting a business or commercial activity;
(5) 
The landlord or any partner or corporate officer or manager or other agent has materially or substantially failed to comply with a property action management plan;
(6) 
The landlord failed to remediate any material statutory or code violations of any rental unit;
(7) 
A landlord registration application filed by an owner, including required updates, contains any material omissions and/or materially false or misleading information;
(8) 
Any rental unit and/or premises of the landlord is conducted or maintained in such a manner as to create a nuisance which threatens the public health or general welfare;
(9) 
The landlord or any partner or corporate officer or manager or agent has been determined to be aiding, abetting, encouraging, permitting, harboring, or engaging in criminal conduct or criminal activities in any of the rental units or on any of the landlord's rental unit properties;
(10) 
Renting the rental unit to a tenant who has been convicted of maintaining a nuisance or of any other acts in violation of the City of Burlington Code;
(11) 
Conviction of a violation of this article in the Municipal Court or any other court of competent jurisdiction;
(12) 
Determination of a violation of this article at a hearing held pursuant to Subsection D of this section;
(13) 
Continuously permitting the rental unit to be occupied by more than the maximum number of occupants permitted;
[Amended 11-10-2020 by Ord. No. 15-2020]
(14) 
The suspension or revocation of any registration certificate issued to the landlord license holder;
(15) 
Maintaining the rental unit or units or the property in which the rental unit is a part in a dangerous condition likely to result in injury to person or property;
[Added 11-10-2020 by Ord. No. 15-2020]
(16) 
A pattern of conduct which results in creating, maintaining, permitting or suffering the existence of any of the following conditions at or about the rental unit:
[Added 11-10-2020 by Ord. No. 15-2020]
(a) 
Disorderly conduct on the part of tenants or occupants or their guests. "Disorderly conduct" shall be as defined in N.J.S.A. 2C:33-2; provided, however, that a conviction of such person or persons under that statute shall not be required in order for the City to take action under this section;
(b) 
A nuisance, as that term is defined by N.J.S.A. 2C:33-12; provided, however, that a conviction of such person or persons under that statute shall not be required in order for the City to take action under this section;
(c) 
The failure to comply with any directive of the City of Burlington concerning the abatement of conduct prohibited by Subsection A(16)(a) or (b) hereof.
(d) 
The rental unit has continued to be, after written notice to cease to the landlord, so disorderly as to destroy the peace and quiet of the neighborhood; and
(e) 
The possession or consumption of alcoholic beverages by minors.
B. 
Enforcing authority. The Mayor or his designee is empowered to enforce the provisions of this article.
C. 
Notice of landlord registration violations.
(1) 
The Mayor or his designee may at any time file a complaint alleging violations of Subsection A. The Mayor or his designee may file a complaint on the basis of information and belief and need not rely on personal information.
(2) 
A complaint alleging violations of applicable law may be filed with the Mayor or his designee by any one or more of the following: Director of Public Safety, Chief of Police, Director of the Department of Housing and Community Development, Construction Official, Housing Inspector or the Zoning Enforcement Officer. The person filing a complaint may do so on the basis of information and belief and need not rely on personal information.
(3) 
Any complaint alleging a violation shall be in writing and filed with the Municipal Clerk. The complaint shall be specific and shall be sufficient to apprise the landlord of the charges and permit the landlord 10 days to correct the violation.
D. 
Landlord registration disciplinary action.
(1) 
Property management action plan ("PMAP").
(a) 
If after 10 days following receipt of notice of a violation, the violation continues, the landlord shall meet with the Mayor or his designee within 10 days to create a property management action plan which will bring the landlord and/or rental unit into compliance by a specified date.
(b) 
The PMAP may concern but is not limited to the following issues:
[1] 
Providing a habitable dwelling;
[2] 
Observing occupancy limits;
[3] 
Maintaining electrical systems meeting code requirements;
[4] 
Maintaining plumbing systems meeting code requirements;
[5] 
Maintaining heating and cooling systems meeting code requirements;
[6] 
Maintaining proper fire protection systems;
[7] 
Eliminating health and safety hazards;
[8] 
Improving or providing for the security of the premises; or
[9] 
Requiring inspections more than once a year should problems with the rental unit occurs regularly.
(c) 
The landlord shall be in violation of this subsection by:
[1] 
Not meeting with the Mayor or his designee to create the PMAP;
[2] 
Not implementing the PMAP; or
[3] 
Not completing the PMAP by the required date;
(d) 
For violations constituting an immediate danger to the public health, safety, and welfare of the City, the Mayor or his designee does not have to issue a PMAP and may take actions in accordance with other provisions of applicable local, state, and federal laws to remedy the situation.
(2) 
Disciplinary action, notice and hearing.
(a) 
If the landlord fails to remedy a violation or comply with a PMAP, the Mayor or his designee shall immediately inform the Common Council, and a date for a hearing to consider the landlord's registration suspension or revocation shall be scheduled which shall not be sooner than 10 nor more than 30 days thereafter. The Mayor or his designee shall forward a copy of the original complaint and any relating documentation to the Common Council. The Common Council shall serve the landlord and any applicable agent with a notice as to the date of the hearing at the address indicated on the registration form. Service upon the agent shall be sufficient. Said notice shall be specific and shall be sufficient to apprise the landlord of the charges so as to permit the landlord to present a defense.
(b) 
The hearing required by this subsection shall be held before the Common Council. The Council shall render a decision within 30 days of the conclusion of the hearing.
(c) 
If the Council finds the landlord guilty of any violation of applicable law, the Common Council has the right to impose the penalties against the landlord as prescribed in Subsection D(3) below.
(d) 
The hearing shall be taped. If determined to be necessary, the Common Council may have a stenographic transcript prepared. All witnesses shall be sworn prior to testifying. The strict rules of evidence shall not apply. All relevant evidence shall be admissible. The burden of proof shall be that which generally controls administrative hearings.
(e) 
It shall be a defense to any disciplinary proceeding involving a landlord registration to demonstrate that the landlord or his agent has taken appropriate action and has made a good faith effort to abate the conditions or circumstances giving rise to the revocation proceeding, including but not limited to the institution of legal action against the tenant(s), occupant(s) or guests for recovery of the premises; eviction of the tenant(s) or otherwise.
(3) 
Landlord registration penalties. The Common Council may impose the following maximum penalties against a landlord after finding the landlord guilty of any violation of applicable law, including by way of example all City Code provisions relating to the condition(s) of housing units, applicable statutes, and/or regulations enforced by the City of Burlington, but promulgated by the County of Burlington, the State of New Jersey, and/or the United States of America.
(a) 
First violation: $500 fine.
(b) 
Second violation: suspension of landlord registration up to one year; $1,500 fine.
(c) 
Third and subsequent violations: permanent revocation of landlord registration; $3,000 fine.
(4) 
Effect of landlord registration penalties.
(a) 
Suspension. A suspension of a landlord registration prohibits the landlord from engaging in any new lease agreements for any rental unit during the suspension period.
(b) 
Revocation. A revocation of a landlord registration prohibits the landlord from maintaining, operating, or otherwise conducting the business of landlord in the City of Burlington.
(5) 
Reinstatement of landlord registration.
(a) 
Generally.
[1] 
The landlord registration is not automatically reinstated at the conclusion of a suspension.
[2] 
The landlord must affirmatively reapply with the appropriate City authority for a new landlord registration after serving the suspension.
[3] 
A landlord whose registration was revoked may apply for reinstatement no earlier than one year after a revocation.
[4] 
In addition to meeting all the requirements necessary to obtain a landlord registration, the landlord shall be prepared to submit, at the request of the Council, proof of changed circumstances demonstrating correction of the violation(s) which caused the previous suspension and/or revocation.
[5] 
All landlord registration reinstatement applications shall be determined by the Council in its sole discretion.
(b) 
Fees. A landlord seeking a landlord registration reinstatement shall be assessed a fee as set forth in Chapter 146, Fee Schedule, in addition to all other applicable landlord registration fees.
(6) 
Nothing contained herein and pertaining the registration privilege shall be construed as constituting an affirmative defense or constitutes a same or similar penalty to any violation of any provision of the Code of the City of Burlington for which such complaint or violation is heard by the Municipal Court for the City of Burlington or appeal therefrom, or any violation or complaint that is filed in any court of competent jurisdiction.
[Amended 9-16-2008 by Ord. No. 17-2008; 4-9-2019 by Ord. No. 03-2019]
Any person, firm or corporation who fails to obtain the required landlord registration; and/or who fails to register a residential unit as defined in this article; and/or who otherwise violates any of the provisions of this article, including but not limited to failure to make required repairs pursuant to § 195-37, shall, upon conviction, pay a fine of not more than $2,500 or be imprisoned for any term not exceeding 90 days or a period of community service not exceeding 90 days, unless another penalty is provided for. In a Municipal Court proceeding a landlord shall not be found in violation of this article during such period as the landlord shall be proceeding to evict the tenants in accordance with applicable New Jersey statutes.