[Adopted 9-22-1981 by Ord. No. 36-1981]
As used in this article, the following words shall mean:
ASSESSOR
The Tax Assessor of the Town of Dover charged with the duty of assessing real property for the purpose of general taxation.
COMPLETION
Substantially ready for the use for which it was intended.
DWELLING
Any building used, to be used or held for use, in whole or part, as the home or residence of one or more families, including accessory buildings located on the same premises, together with the land upon which such building or buildings are erected and which may be necessary for the fair enjoyment thereof, but shall not mean any building or part of a building, defined as a "multiple dwelling" pursuant to the Hotel and Multiple Dwelling Law, P.L. 1967, c. 76 (N.J.S.A. 55:13A-1 et seq.). A "dwelling" shall include individual residences within a horizontal property regime or a condominium but shall not include "general common elements" or "common elements" of such horizontal property regime or condominium as defined pursuant to the Horizontal Property Act, P.L. 1963, c. 168 (N.J.S.A. 46:8A-1 et seq.), or the Condominium Act, P.L. 1969, c. 257 (N.J.S.A. 46:8B-1 et seq.).
HOME IMPROVEMENT
The improvement of a dwelling which does not change its permitted use and shall include the modernization, rehabilitation, renovation, alteration or repair of a dwelling.
A. 
In determining the value of real property for the purposes of taxation, the Assessor shall regard the first $10,000 in Assessor's full and true value of home improvements for each dwelling unit primarily and directly affected by a home improvement in any single- or two-family dwelling property more than 20 years old as not increasing the value of such property for a period of five years, notwithstanding that the value of the dwelling to which such improvements are made is increased thereby; provided, however, that during said period, the assessment on such dwelling shall in no case, except that of damage through action of the elements sufficient to warrant a reduction, be less than the assessment thereon existing immediately prior to such improvements.
B. 
Such amounts may be deducted from the amount determined by the Assessor to be the true value of the improvement on October 1 of any year following the date of the completion of the improvement to be the true taxable value of the improvement and may continue to be so treated for each of the five tax years subsequent to the original determination by the Assessor.
C. 
Additional improvements completed during a period in which the improved property is subject to previously granted exemption privileges hereunder shall be qualified for additional deduction privileges, under the terms and conditions herein specified; provided, however, that in no tax year shall the total deduction for any single property exceed the maximum amount specified in Subsection A hereinabove.
D. 
No exemption authorized pursuant to the provisions of this article shall be granted or allowed except upon written application therefor filed with and approved by the Assessor. Every such application shall be on the form prescribed by the Director of the Division of Taxation, Department of the Treasury, and provided for the use by claimants, and shall be filed with the Assessor within 30 days, including Saturdays and Sundays, following the completion of the improvement. Every application for exemption of one or more improvements which qualify as improvements, as defined by this article, and which is filed within the time specified, shall be approved and allowed by the Assessor. The granting of any such abatement shall be noted upon the official tax records of the Town of Dover, which record shall contain a notice of the termination date of the exemption and the consequences of transfer of title.