[HISTORY: Adopted by the Mayor and Council of the Borough of Ho-Ho-Kus 10-25-2016 by Ord. No. 2016-12. Amendments noted where applicable.]
The Mayor and Council hereby find and adopt, as if set forth more fully herein, the fact assertions of the "Whereas" clauses of this ordinance as their findings of fact.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: The complete ordinance is on file in the Borough offices.
A. 
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in the Borough Code, it shall be unlawful for an owner, lessor, sublessor, any other person(s) or entity(ies) with possessory or use right(s) in a dwelling unit, their principals, partner or shareholders, or their agents, employees, representatives and other person(s) or entity(ies), acting in concert or a combination thereof, to receive or obtain actual or anticipated consideration for soliciting, advertising, offering, and/or permitting, allowing, or failing to discontinue the use or occupancy of any dwelling unit, as defined herein, for a period of 175 days or less.
[Amended 10-27-2020 by Ord. No. 2020-38]
B. 
Nothing in this chapter will prevent formation of an otherwise lawful occupancy of a dwelling unit for a rental period of more than 30 days.
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
ADVERTISE or ADVERTISING
Any form of solicitation, promotion, and communication for marketing, used to solicit, encourage, persuade, or manipulate viewers, readers, or listeners into contracting for goods and/or services in violation of this chapter, as same may be viewed through various media, including but not limited to newspapers, magazines, flyers, handbills, pamphlets, commercials, radio, direct mail, Internet websites, or text or other electronic messages for the purpose of establishing occupancies or uses of rental property, for consideration, which are prohibited by this chapter.
CONSIDERATION
Soliciting, charging, demanding, receiving or accepting any legally recognized form of consideration, including a promise or benefit, a quid pro quo, rent, fees, other form of payment, or thing of value.
DWELLING UNIT
Any structure, or portion thereof, whether furnished or unfurnished, which is occupied in whole or in part, or intended, arranged or designed to be occupied, for sleeping, dwelling, cooking, gathering and/or entertaining, as a residential occupancy, by one or more persons. This definition includes an apartment, condominium, building, cooperative, converted space, or portions thereof, that is offered to use, made available for use, or is used for accommodations, lodging, cooking, sleeping, gathering and/or entertaining of occupants and/or guest(s), for consideration, for a period of 30 days or less.
HOUSEKEEPING UNIT
Constitutes a family-type situation, involving one or more persons, living together that exhibits the kind of stability, permanency and functional lifestyle equivalent to that of a traditional family unit, as further described in the applicable reported and unreported decisions of the New Jersey Superior Court.
OCCUPANT
Any individual using, inhabiting, living, gathering, entertaining, being entertained as a guest, or sleeping in a dwelling unit, or portion thereof, or having other permission or possessory right(s) within a dwelling unit.
OWNER
Any person(s) or entity(ies), association, limited liability company, corporation, or partnership, or any combination, who legally uses, possesses, owns, leases, subleases or licenses (including an operator, principal, shareholder, director, agent, or employee, individually or collectively) that has charge, care, control, or participates in the expenses and/or profit of a dwelling unit pursuant to a written or unwritten agreement, rental, lease, license, use, occupancy agreement or any other agreement.
PERSON
An individual, firm, corporation, association, partnership, limited liability company, association, entity, and any person(s) and/or entity(ies) acting in concert or any combination therewith.
RESIDENTIAL OCCUPANCY
The use of a dwelling unit by an occupant.
[Amended 10-27-2020 by Ord. No. 2020-38]
The residential occupancy of an otherwise lawful and lawfully occupied dwelling unit for a period of 30 days or less by any person who is a member of the housekeeping unit of the owner, without consideration, such as house guests, is permitted.
It shall be unlawful to advertise, solicit or promote by any means actions in violation of this chapter.
A. 
The provisions of this chapter shall be enforced by the Zoning Official, Fire Official, Health Department, other Subcode or Code Official, as their jurisdiction may arise, including legal counsel for the Borough or other persons designated by the Borough Council, to issue municipal civil infractions directing alleged violators of this chapter and/or to appear in court or file civil complaints.
[Amended 10-27-2020 by Ord. No. 2020-38]
B. 
A violation of this chapter hereby declared to be a public nuisance, a nuisance per se, and is hereby further found and declared to be offensive to the public health, safety and welfare.
C. 
Any person found to have violated any provision of this chapter, without regard to intent or knowledge, shall be liable for the maximum civil penalty, upon adjudicated violation or admission, of a fine not exceeding $1,250. Each day of such violation shall be a new and separate violation of this chapter.
D. 
The penalty imposed herein shall be in addition to any and all other remedies that may accrue under any other law, including, but not limited to, eviction proceedings and/or injunction, reasonable attorney's fees or other fees and costs, in the Borough's Municipal Court or the Superior Court of New Jersey in the vicinage of Bergen County, or in such other court or tribunal of competent jurisdiction, by either summary disposition or by zoning or construction code municipal proceeding.
All other ordinances or parts of ordinances of the Borough which are inconsistent with this chapter are hereby repealed, but only to the extent of such inconsistencies.
If any portion of this chapter is adjudged unconstitutional or invalid by a court of competent jurisdiction, such judgment shall not affect or invalidate the remainder of this chapter but shall be confined in its effect to the provision directly involved in the controversy in which such judgment shall have been rendered.
This chapter shall take effect upon passage and publication as provided by law.