Borough of Palmyra, NJ Property Maintenance Standards

Section PM-101.1, Title (page 1, line 2). Insert: "Borough of Palmyra, New Jersey."

Section PM-101.1.1, Purpose (page 1), is hereby added as follows:

PM.1.1 Purpose: This code applies primarily to the exterior property and exterior of buildings that present hazardous, unsafe, unsanitary or blighting conditions. This code attempts to address the deficiencies of the old ordinance in responding to the complaints of local residents who find their neighborhoods threatened by properties or buildings that are dangerous, may provide rat harborage and have not been cared for by the property owner. These conditions would typically result from long-standing, intentional neglect by landlords or property owners. This code establishes minimum standards to protect the health, safety and welfare of the residential and business community through delineation of the conditions that create a public nuisance.

Section PM-101.1.2, Adoption (page 1), is hereby added as follows:

PM-101.1.2 Adoption: This code has been adopted by the Borough of Palmyra via Ordinance No. 1998-6. Any amendments, revisions or other changes shall be done in accordance will all state and local laws.

(4)

Section PM-101.7, Application of other codes (page 1, line 5). Add: ", and in accordance with the procedures and provisions pursuant to the New Jersey Uniform Construction Code."

(5)

Section PM-101.7.1, Conflicts (page 1), is hereby added as follows:

PM-101.7.1 Conflicts: This code is intended to work in conjunction with existing Borough building and firesafety ordinances, and if it conflicts with any existing ordinances, the more stringent requirements shall apply.

(6)

Section PM-105.1, General (page 2, line 1). Delete in its entirety and replace with:

PM-105.1 General: The Code Enforcement Officer (herein referred to as "code official"), and other duly authorized Borough of Palmyra officials as appointed by the Mayor with the advice and consent of Borough Council, shall enforce all of the provisions of this code.

(7)

Section PM-105.8, Organization (page 2, line 7). Add: "The appointing authority shall consist of the Mayor with the advice and consent of Borough Council."

(8)

Section PM-105.10, Relief from personal responsibility (page 2, line 18). Add: "The official shall be afforded all the rights and protections afforded under Title 59 of the New Jersey statutes."

(9)

Section PM-106.1, Unlawful acts (page 2, line 2). Add: "It shall be unlawful for any person, firm or corporation to create or maintain a public nuisance as defined within or erect ..."

(10)

Section PM-106.2, Penalty (page 2, line 3). Insert: "not less than $50 nor more than $1,000 or."

(11)

Section PM-106.2, Penalty (page 2, line 4). Insert: "imprisonment for a term not to exceed 10 days."

(12)

Section PM-106.4, Payments (page 3), is hereby added as follows:

PM-106.4 Payments: Penalties shall be paid directly to the Borough of Palmyra and applied to the general fund.

(13)

Section PM-107.2, Form (page 3). Add: "'Reasonable time' is defined as two weeks or 10 business days for vegetation and motor vehicle issues and 30 days for other violations unless otherwise noted. Emergency measures and remedies are not part of this section. See Section PM-109.0, Emergency Measures.

	"5.	Include possible penalties and payment procedures;
	"6.	Include appeal procedures; and
	"7.	Include the signature of the code officer filing the complaint."

(14)

Section PM-111.2 through Section PM-111.7 (pages 4 and 5). Delete in their entirety and replace with the Borough's current appeal process as administered by the county.

Chapter 2, Definitions.

Section PM-202.0, General Definitions. Under the definition of "dwellings" (page 7) add:

	Boardinghouse: A building arranged or used for lodging for compensation, with or without meals, and not to be occupied as a single-family unit.
	Motel: A hotel as defined in this code.
	Multiple-family dwelling: A building or portion thereof containing more than two dwelling units and not meeting the requirements for a multiple single-family unit.
	Multiple single-family dwelling: A building or portion thereof containing more than two dwelling units.

Section PM-202.0, General Definitions (page 8). Add:

Motor vehicles: Including but not limited to automobiles, cars, trucks, motorcycles, buses, campers, trailers and boats.

Chapter 3, General Requirements.

Section PM-302.1, General, definition of "occupant" (page 9), amend to read as follows:

Occupant: Any person five years of age or older who is living or sleeping in a building or having possession of a space within a building.

Section PM-302.1, General, definition of "premises" (page 9, line 2). Add: ", regardless of zoning, be it residential, commercial or industrial, or any combination thereof."

Section PM-302.1, General, definition of "public nuisance" (page 9, line 27). Add:

	9.	Any unregistered, unlicensed, uninsured, uninspected or abandoned motor vehicle, including but not limited to cars, trucks, buses, campers, trailers, boats and motorcycles, or any motor vehicle engine, body or replacement part, parked, kept or stored on any premises, public street or Borough-owned property.
	10.	Any motor vehicle, including but not limited to cars, trucks, campers, trailers, buses, boats and motorcycles, or any motor vehicle engine, body or replacement part, parked, kept or stored on Borough-owned property without first receiving the Mayor's written authorization, with the advice and consent of Borough Council.
	11.	Any stagnant, standing or impounded surface water which exists for more than 48 hours.
	12.	Any premises or structure thereon which directs water from the premises onto an adjacent premises and creates a nuisance thereon or creates erosion on the existing premises or adjacent premises.

(4)

Section PM-303.4, Weeds (page 10, lines 2 and 3). Replace: "10 inches (254 mm)" with "six inches (152.4 mm)."

(5)

Section PM-303.5.1, Storage of wood (page 10), is hereby added as follows:

Section PM-303.5.1 Storage of wood: All woodpiles, including firewood, which are stored outdoors should be stored on platforms at least eight inches above ground level.

(6)

Section PM-303.8, Motor vehicles (page 10, lines 1 through 10). Delete in its entirety [see Subsection B(11)]. Replace with Section PM-308.0, Motor Vehicles.

(7)

Section PM-303.9, Signs (page 10), is hereby added as follows:

	PM-303.9 Signs: All signs of a temporary nature must be erected or posted no sooner than 21 days prior to the event and removed no later than two days after the event. In no case will any temporary sign be permitted to be posted or erected for more than 23 days. All signs must contain an address and name of the individual or entity responsible for the placement and removal of the sign.
	Excluded: Real estate broker or realtor signs and "for sale by owner" (for buildings only) signs. Also, political signs, provided that they are removed within 10 days following the election.

(8)

Section PM-304.15, Insect screens (page 11, lines 1 and 2). Insert: "During the period date from January 1 to December 31."

(9)

Section PM-304.19, Graffiti (page 11) is here added as follows:

PM-304-19 Graffiti: Graffiti caused by any person upon the structure of any building shall be removed by the owner of that building within seven days.

(10)

Section PM-306.3.2, Containers (page 11, line 5). Add "In addition, each retail sales-oriented commercial establishment shall provide, outside the structure and near the primary entrance, a container as described above.

(11)

Section PM-308.0, Motor Vehicles (page 12), is hereby added as follows:

	Section PM-308.0 Motor Vehicles
	PM-308.1 Vehicles not permitted: Any unregistered, unlicensed, uninsured, uninspected or abandoned motor vehicle, or any motor vehicle engine, body or replacement part, parked, kept or stored on any premises, public street or Borough-owned property, whether covered by tarpaulin or not, shall not be permitted and must be removed or properly registered, insured, licensed and inspected, and no vehicle shall at any time be in a state of major disassembly, disrepair or in the process of being stripped or dismantled.
	Exceptions:

	(a)	Motor vehicles of any type may be parked, kept or stored in garages or similarly enclosed structures or areas and must be out of public view.
	(b)	A motor vehicle of any type is permitted to undergo major overhaul, including bodywork, provided that such work is performed inside a garage or similarly enclosed structure or area designed and approved for such purposes.
	(c)	One unregistered, unlicensed, uninsured or uninspected vehicle per premises may be situated in the rear of the premises, outside garage or similarly enclosed structure or area designated and approved for such purposes of restoration or maintenance for a maximum of 90 days, provided that the vehicle owner first receives a temporary permit, available from the code official at a cost of $25. This permit will be renewable one time.
	PM-308.2 Parking on Borough property: No motor vehicle shall be parked on Borough-owned property without first receiving the Mayor's approval, with the advice and consent of Borough Council. Any vehicle parked in violation of this provision will be removed at the owner's expense. This provision shall not be applied to vehicles parked in the Borough parking lot while the driver of the vehicle is conducting business with the Borough.

Chapter 4, Light, Ventilation and Occupancy Limitations.

Section PM-403.1, Habitable spaces (page 13). Add: "The habitable space window requirements shall not apply to existing structures."

Section PM-404.1, Habitable spaces (page 13). Add: "The habitable space window requirements shall not be required of existing structures."

Section PM-405.5, Overcrowding, Table PM-405.5, Minimum Area Requirements (page 14), is amended as follows:

	Table PM-405.5
	Minimum Area Requirements

Space	Minimum Area in Square Feet^b
	1 to 2 Occupants	3 to 5 Occupants	6 or More
Living room^a	No requirements	100	135
Dining room^a	No requirements	70	90
Kitchen	45	45	50
Bedrooms	Shall comply with Section PM-405.3

	NOTES:
	^a See Section PM-405.6 for combined living room/dining room spaces.
	^bOne square foot = 0.093 m².

(4)

Section PM-405.8, Minimum ceiling heights, exceptions (page 14). Add:

This provision shall not apply to existing structures' ceiling heights at the time of adoption of this code.

(5)

Section PM-405.9, Minimum room widths (page 14). Add: "This provision shall not apply to existing structures' room widths at the time of adoption of this code."

Chapter 6, Mechanical and Electrical Requirements.

Section PM-602-2.1, Heat supply (page 17, line 5). Insert: "January 1 to December 31."

Section PM-602.3, Nonresidential structures (page 17, line 3). Insert: "January 1 to December 31."