[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Health of the Borough of Totowa 10-12-1973 (Ch. 167 of the 1974 Code). Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Fire prevention — See Ch. 186.
Flood damage prevention — See Ch. 189.
Property maintenance — See Ch. 295.
Storm sewers — See Ch. 349.
Streets and sidewalks — See Ch. 361.
Water — See Ch. 407.
Zoning and land use — See Ch. 415.
A. 
Terms defined. The following definitions shall apply in the interpretation and enforcement of this chapter:
BASEMENT
A portion of a building located partly or wholly underground, but having less than half its clear floor-to-ceiling height below the average grade of the adjoining ground.
BOARD OF HEALTH
The Board of Health of the Borough of Totowa, New Jersey, or its duly authorized representatives.
CELLAR
A portion of a building located partly or wholly underground and having half or more than half of its clear floor-to-ceiling height below the average grade of the adjoining ground.
DWELLING
Any building which is wholly or partly used or intended to be used for living or sleeping by human occupants.
DWELLING UNIT
Any room or group of rooms located within a dwelling and forming a single habitable unit with facilities which are used or intended to be used for living, sleeping, cooking and eating.
EXTERMINATION
The control and elimination of insects, rodents or other pests by any recognized and legal pest elimination methods approved by the Board of Health.
GARBAGE
The animal and vegetable waste resulting from the handling, preparation, cooking and consumption of food.
HABITABLE ROOM
A room or enclosed floor space used or intended to be used for living, sleeping, cooking or eating purposes, excluding bathrooms, water closet compartments, laundries, pantries, foyers or communicating corridors, closets and storage space.
HEALTH OFFICER
The legally designated health authority of the Board of Health of the Borough of Totowa, New Jersey or his authorized representatives.
INFESTATION
The presence within or around a dwelling of any insects, rodents or other pests.
MULTIPLE DWELLING
Any dwelling containing more than two dwelling units.
OCCUPANT
Any person, over one year of age living, sleeping, cooking or eating in or having actual possession of a dwelling unit or rooming unit.
OPERATOR
Any person who has charge, care or control of a building or part thereof in which dwelling units or rooming units are let.
OWNER
Any person who, alone, jointly or severally with others:
(1) 
Shall have legal title to any dwelling or dwelling unit, with or without accompanying actual possession thereof; or
(2) 
Shall have charge, care or control of any dwelling or dwelling unit as owner or agent of the owner, or as executor, executrix, administrator, administratrix, trustee or guardian of the estate of the owner. Any such person thus representing the actual "owner" shall be bound to comply with the provisions of this chapter and of rules and regulations adopted pursuant thereto, to the same extent as if he were the owner.
ROOMING HOUSE
Any dwelling or that part of any dwelling containing one or more rooming units in which space is let by the owner or operator to three or more persons who are not husband and wife, son or daughter, mother or father or sister or brother of the owner or operator.
RUBBISH
Combustible and noncombustible waste materials, except garbage.
SUPPLIED
Paid for, furnished or provided by or under the control of the owner or operator.
B. 
Word usage. Whenever the words "dwelling," "dwelling unit," "rooming house," "rooming unit" or "premises," are used in this chapter, they shall be construed as though they were followed by the words "or any part thereof."
The Health Officer is hereby authorized and directed to make inspections to determine the condition of dwellings, dwelling units, rooming units and premises located within the Borough of Totowa, in order that he may perform his duty of safeguarding the health and safety of the occupants of dwellings and of the general public. For the purpose of making such inspections, the Health Officer is hereby authorized to enter, examine and survey at all reasonable times all dwellings, dwelling units, rooming units and premises. The owner or occupant of every dwelling, dwelling unit and rooming unit, or the person in charge thereof, shall give the Health Officer free access to such dwelling, dwelling unit or rooming unit and its premises at all reasonable times for the purpose of such inspection, examination and survey. Every occupant of a dwelling or dwelling unit shall give the owner thereof, or his agent or employee, access to any part of such dwelling or dwelling unit or its premises, at all reasonable times for the purpose of making such repairs or alterations as are necessary to effect compliance with the provision of this chapter or with any lawful rule or regulation adopted or any lawful order issued pursuant to the provisions of this chapter.
Whenever the Health Officer determines that there are reasonable grounds to believe that there has been a violation of any provision of this chapter or of any rule or regulation adopted pursuant thereto, he shall give notice of such alleged violation to the person or persons responsible therefor, as hereinafter provided. The notice shall:
A. 
Be put in writing.
B. 
Include a statement of the alleged violations.
C. 
Allow a reasonable time for the performance of any act it requires.
D. 
Be served upon the owner or his agent, or the occupant, as the case may require, provided that such notice shall be served pursuant to Rule 4:4-4 of the Rules Governing the Courts of the State of New Jersey.
E. 
Contain an outline of remedial action which, if taken, will effect compliance with the provisions of this chapter and with rules and regulations adopted pursuant thereto.
The Board of Health is hereby authorized to make and adopt such written rules and regulations as may be necessary for the proper enforcement of the provisions of this chapter, provided that such rules and regulations shall not be in conflict with the provisions of this chapter. The Board of Health shall file a certified copy of such rules and regulations with the Secretary of the Board of Health. Such rules and regulations shall have the same force and effect as the provisions of this chapter, and the penalty for violation thereof shall be the same as the penalty for violations of the provisions of this chapter as hereinafter provided.
No person shall occupy as owner-occupant or let to another for occupancy any dwelling or dwelling unit, for the purpose of living, sleeping, cooking or eating therein, which does not comply with the following requirements:
A. 
Every dwelling unit shall contain a kitchen sink in good working condition and properly connected to a water and sewer system approved by the Health Officer.
B. 
Every dwelling unit shall contain a room which affords privacy to a person within said room and which is equipped with a flush water closet and a lavatory basin in good working condition and properly connected to a water and sewer system approved by the Health Officer.
C. 
Every dwelling unit shall contain, within a room which affords privacy to a person within said room, a bathtub or shower in good working condition and properly connected to a water and sewer system approved by the Health Officer.
D. 
Every kitchen sink, lavatory basin and bathtub or shower required under the provisions of Subsections A, B and C of this section shall be properly connected with both hot and cold water lines.
E. 
Every dwelling unit shall be supplied with adequate rubbish storage facilities whose type and location are approved by the Health Officer.
F. 
Every dwelling unit shall have adequate garbage disposal facilities or garbage storage containers, whose type and location are approved by the Health Officer.
G. 
Every dwelling shall have supplied water heating facilities which are properly installed, are maintained safe and in good working condition, are properly connected with hot water lines required under the provision of Subsection D of this section and are capable of heating water to such a temperature as to permit an adequate amount of water to be drawn at every required kitchen sink, lavatory basin, bathtub or shower at a temperature of not less than 120° F. Hot running water at a temperature of not less than 120° F. shall be supplied at every kitchen sink, lavatory basin, bathtub or shower at all times.
H. 
Every dwelling unit shall have safe, unobstructed means of egress leading to a safe and open space at ground level as required by the laws of the State of New Jersey.
No person shall occupy as owner-occupant or let to another for occupancy any dwelling or dwelling unit, for the purpose of living therein, which does not comply with the following requirements:
A. 
Every habitable room shall have at least one window or skylight facing directly to the outdoors. The minimum total window area, measured between stops, for every habitable room shall be 10% of the floor area of such room. Whenever walls or other portions of a structure face a window of any such room and such light-obstruction structures are located less than three feet from the window and extend to a level above that of the ceiling of the room, such a window shall not be deemed to face directly to the outdoors and shall not be included as contributing to the required minimum total window area. Whenever the only window in a room is a skylight-type window in the top of such room, the total window area of such skylight shall equal at least 15% of the total floor area of such room.
B. 
Every habitable room, bathroom and water closet shall have at least one skylight or window which may be easily opened, or other device to provide adequate ventilation. The total opening window area in every habitable room, bathroom or water closet shall be equal to at least 45% of the minimum window area size or skylight-type window area size, as required in Subsection B of this section, except where there is supplied some other device providing adequate ventilation and approved by the Health Officer. All ventilation devices must be kept in continuous operation in bathrooms and water closets.
C. 
Every dwelling shall be supplied with electric service which shall be installed and maintained in accordance with the requirements of the Electrical Bureau of the Borough of Totowa, New Jersey.
D. 
Every dwelling shall have heating facilities which are properly installed, are maintained in safe and good working condition, and are capable of safely and adequately heating all habitable rooms, bathrooms and water closet compartments in every dwelling unit located therein to a temperature of at least 68° F. at a distance three feet above floor level, under ordinary minimum winter conditions.
No person shall occupy as owner-occupant or let to another for occupancy any dwelling or dwelling unit for the purpose of living therein, which does not comply with the following requirements:
A. 
Every dwelling unit shall contain at least 150 square feet of floor space for the first occupant thereof and at least 100 additional square feet of floor space for every additional occupant thereof, the floor space to be calculated on the basis of total habitable room area; provided, however, that a one-room dwelling unit shall not be occupied by more than two persons.
B. 
In every dwelling unit of two or more rooms, every room occupied for sleeping purposes by one occupant shall contain at least 70 square feet of floor space, and every room occupied for sleeping purposes by more than one occupant shall contain at least 50 square feet of floor space for each occupant thereof.
C. 
Every habitable room, except attic and basement rooms, shall have a ceiling height of at least eight feet in every part. At least 1/2 of the floor area of every habitable attic room shall have a ceiling height of at least seven feet six inches. The floor area of that part of any room where the ceiling is less than five feet shall not be considered as part of the floor area in computing the total floor area of the room for the purpose of determining the permissible occupancy thereof.
D. 
No cellar space shall be used as a habitable room or dwelling unit.
E. 
No basement space shall be used as a habitable room or dwelling unit unless:
(1) 
The floor and walls are impervious to leakage of underground and surface runoff water and are insulated against dampness.
(2) 
The total window area in each room is equal to at least the minimum window area sizes as required in § 452-6A of this chapter.
(3) 
Each room shall have adequate means of ventilation as provided in § 452-6 of this chapter.
(4) 
The ceiling height shall not be less than seven feet in every part used as a habitable room.
A. 
Every owner of a dwelling containing more than two dwelling units shall be responsible for maintaining in a clean and sanitary condition the share or public areas of the dwelling and premises thereof.
B. 
Every occupant of a dwelling or dwelling unit shall keep in a clean and sanitary condition that part of the dwelling, dwelling unit and premises thereof which he occupies and controls.
C. 
At least one flush water closet, lavatory basin and bathtub or shower properly connected to the Borough water supply and sewer system approved by the Board of Health and in good working condition shall be supplied for each eight persons or fraction thereof, residing within a rooming house, including the members of the operator's family wherever they have the use of the said facilities; provided, however, that in a rooming house where rooms are let only to males, flush urinals may be substituted for not more than 1/2 of the required number of water closets. All such facilities shall be so located in the dwelling as to be reasonably accessible, from a common hall or passageway, to all persons sharing such facilities. Every lavatory basin and bathtub or shower shall be supplied with: hot water at all times. No such facilities shall be located in a basement.
D. 
The operator of every rooming house shall change supplied bed linen and towels therein at least once each week and, prior to letting the room to any occupant, the operator shall be responsible for the maintenance of all supplied bedding in a clean sanitary manner.
E. 
The operator of every rooming house shall be responsible for the sanitary maintenance of all walls, floors and ceilings.
F. 
Every provision of this chapter which applies to rooming houses shall also apply to hotels, except to the extent that any such provision may be in conflict with the laws of the State of New Jersey or with the lawful regulation of any state board or agency.