As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated:
AGENT or MANAGING AGENT
The individuals designated by the owners as the person(s)
authorized by the owner to perform any duty imposed upon the owner
by this chapter. If the owner provides no such designation, the owner
shall be considered the agent or managing agent.
BUILDING
Any building or structure or part thereof used for human
habitation, use of occupancy, and includes any accessory buildings
and appurtenances belonging thereto or usually enjoyed therewith.
CERTIFICATE OF OCCUPANCY
The certificate issued by Code Enforcement confirming that
the rental unit has been properly registered and determined appropriate
for occupancy in accordance with the standards set forth in this chapter.
DWELLING
Any building or portion thereof designed or used exclusively
for one or more dwelling units, as delineated below:
A.
DWELLING UNITA building or part thereof having cooking, sleeping and sanitary facilities designed for or occupied by one family and which is entirely separated from any other dwelling unit in the building, either vertically or horizontally, and with an independent means of access.
C.
DWELLING, TWO-FAMILYA building designed for or containing two dwelling units which are entirely separated from each other by vertical walls or horizontal floors.
D.
DWELLING, MULTIPLEA building designed for or containing three or more dwelling units which are entirely separated from each other by vertical walls or horizontal floors.
GUEST
A person occupying a dwelling unit.
HABITABLE ROOM
A room or enclosed floor space within a dwelling unit used
or designed to be used for living, sleeping, cooking or eating purposes,
excluding bathrooms, water closed compartments, laundries, pantries,
foyers or communicating corridors, closets and storage space.
LAW
See "occupant standards" below.
LODGING UNIT
A room or group of rooms containing no cooking facilities,
used for living purposes of a separate family or group of persons
living together or by a person living alone within a building.
OCCUPANT
A person occupying a dwelling unit.
OWNER
An individual or entity holding title to a property proposed
for short-term rental by way of a legally recorded deed.
RENTAL UNIT
Any apartment, dwelling, building, dwelling unit, habitable
room or lodging unit, as defined by this chapter, which is rented
or offered for rent, for living and dwelling purposes regardless of
the consideration for occupancy, including but not limited to money
paid, services rendered, or accommodation incident to employment.
A rental unit shall not include any property wherein the person(s)
occupying and/or renting the property is related to the owner(s) of
the property. For purposes of this chapter, the term "related to"
shall mean either a grandparent/grandchild, a parent/child, or a sibling
relationship.
SLEEPING ACCOMMODATIONS
The number of individuals who may be properly accommodated
in the beds and other sleeping facilities located within any rental
unit.
No person shall hereafter occupy any rental unit nor shall the
owner permit occupancy of any rental unit within the Township of Jefferson
which is not registered and certified for occupancy in accordance
with this chapter.
All properties registered and certified for occupancy hereunder
must be fully insured for rental purposes. Policies must remain valid
and in full force and effect throughout the term of the certificate
of occupancy.
[Amended 10-18-2023 by Ord. No. 23-18]
A. Registration and inspection: $200.
B. Amended registration: $75.
D. If any fee is not paid within 30 days of its due date, a late fee
charge in the amount of $50 applies.
Code Enforcement and the Township's Clerk office shall index
and file registration forms. In doing so, Code Enforcement 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 chapter.
Registrations must be amended within 20 days of any change in
the information furnished in accordance with this chapter. No fees
shall be charged for amended registrations except for changes in ownership.
Rental units registered and certified for occupancy pursuant
to this chapter are subject to the maximum occupancy limits set forth
in this subsection, which may be adjusted downward based on acceptable
means of egress. The occupancy limit as computed pursuant to this
subsection shall be documented on the certificate of occupancy.
A. Every room occupied for sleeping purposes by one occupant shall contain
at least 70 square feet of floor area, and every room occupied for
sleeping purposes by more than one person shall contain at least 50
square feet of floor area for each occupant thereof.
B. Rental units shall not be occupied by more occupants than permitted
by the maximum occupancy area requirements of Table 1 as well as the
designated approved septic plan on file with the Township.
Table 1
Minimum Occupancy Area Requirements
|
---|
Space
|
Minimum Occupancy Area in Square Feet
|
---|
1 to 2 Occupants
|
3 to 5 Occupants
|
6 or More
|
---|
Living Room
|
No requirements
|
120
|
150
|
Dining Room
|
No requirements
|
80
|
100
|
Kitchen
|
50
|
50
|
60
|
Bedrooms
|
70
|
70
|
70
|
C. Combined living room and dining room spaces shall comply with the
requirements of Table 1 if the total area is equal to that required
for separate rooms and if the space is so located that it functions
as a combination living room/dining room.
D. Decks/porches: The maximum allowable occupancy on any deck shall
be one person per nine square feet.
E. Landlords may request occupancy limits lower than the maximums computed
pursuant to this subsection, in which case the limit requested, if
deemed acceptable, will govern and be documented upon the certificate
of occupancy.
F. Rentals of subterranean space are permitted only to the extent that
acceptable means of egress are available, the occupancy limitations
imposed under this subsection are satisfied, and the subterranean
occupancy does not violate another federal, state, or local code.
No rental unit may be registered and no certificate of occupancy
shall be issued for any property containing a rental unit unless all
municipal taxes, water and sewer charges and other municipal assessments
are current.
All units, including the maintenance thereof and the conduct thereon, shall at all times be in full compliance with all applicable state, federal and local rules, regulations, statutes, ordinances and other governing authority, including but not limited to the Township of Jefferson Code Chapter
313 (Littering; Handbills), Chapter
321 (Noise), Chapter
326 (Nuisances, Public Health) and Chapter
367 (Property Maintenance) (collectively, "Law").
The Code Enforcer, the Construction Official, the Zoning Officer,
the Fire Official and the police department are hereby authorized
to separately or jointly, as circumstances warrant, enforce this chapter.
Any person or entity violating this chapter is subject to a
maximum fine of $2,000 and/or 90 days in jail. The penalty imposed
herein shall be in addition to any and all other remedies that may
accrue under any other law.