The provisions of this article shall constitute the standards to guide the Public Officer and his agents in determining the fitness of premises for human habitation, use and occupancy and in determining whether premises are being maintained in such condition as to not constitute a blighting effect upon neighboring properties nor an element leading to a progressive deterioration and downgrading of neighboring properties with an accompanying diminution of property values.
A. 
Definitions. As used in this code, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated, unless a different meaning clearly appears from the context:
ACCESSORY STRUCTURE
A building or use that is on the same lot as and subordinate to the main building, and which is under the same ownership or control as and used for a purpose customarily incident to the use of the main building.
BATHROOM
Any enclosed space which contains one or more of the following: bathtub, shower, water closet, lavatory, water closet compartment, washbowl, sink or fixtures serving similar purposes.
BUILDING
Any building or structure or part thereof, whether used for human habitation or otherwise, and includes any outbuildings and appurtenances belonging thereto or usually enjoyed therewith.
DETERIORATION
The condition or appearance of a building or a part thereof, characterized by holes, breaks, rot, crumbling, crackling, peeling, rusting or other evidence of physical decay or neglect, lack of maintenance or excessive use or wear.
EXPOSED TO PUBLIC VIEW
Any premises or part thereof which may be lawfully viewed by the public or any member thereof from a sidewalk, street, alleyway, parking lot or from any adjoining or neighboring premises.
EXTERIOR OF THE PREMISES
Any part of the premises not occupied by any building thereon; any open space on the outside of any building; or any part of any building which is exposed to the elements.
EXTERMINATION
The control and elimination of insects, rodents and vermin by eliminating their harborage places or by removing or making inaccessible material that may serve as their food, or by poisoning, spraying, fumigating, trapping or any other approved means of pest elimination.
GARBAGE
The animal and vegetable and other organic waste resulting from the handling, preparation, cooking and consumption of food or other products.
INFESTATION
The presence on or within a premises of any insects, rodents or other pests.
MIXED OCCUPANCY
Any building, such as an apartment, multifamily dwelling or other such building, containing one or more dwelling units, rooming units or hotel or motel accommodations and also, for a portion thereof, devoted to nonresidential uses.
NUISANCE
(1) 
Any public nuisance known in public law or in law or in equity jurisprudence or as provided by the statutes of the State of New Jersey or by the ordinances of the Borough of Park Ridge.
(2) 
Any inadequately protected well, shaft, basement, excavation, abandoned motor vehicle, icebox, refrigerator, structurally unsound fence or building, lumber, trash, debris or vegetation such as but not limited to poison ivy, oak or sumac or other condition which is or may be detrimental to the safety or health of persons.
(3) 
Physical conditions dangerous to human life or detrimental to health of persons on or near the premises where the conditions exist.
(4) 
Whatever renders air, food or drink unwholesome or detrimental to the health of human beings.
(5) 
Fire hazards.
OCCUPANCY UNIT
Any apartment, multifamily dwelling unit or any room or group of rooms or part thereof forming a single usable unit and located within a building used or intended to be used or designed to be used in whole or in part for commercial, business, industrial, multifamily or other residential or nonresidential occupancy.
OCCUPANT
Any person or persons, including the owner, in actual possession of and using an entire building or an occupancy unit in the building.
OPERATOR
Any person who has charge, care or control of the premises or part thereof, whether with or without the knowledge and consent of the owner.
OWNER
Any person who, alone or jointly or severally with others, shall have legal or equitable title to any premises with or without accompanying actual possession thereof, or shall have charge, care or control of any dwelling or dwelling unit as owner or agent of the owner or as fiduciary, including but not limited to executor, executrix, administrator, administratrix, trustee, receiver or guardian of the estate or as a mortgagee in possession, regardless of how much possession was obtained. Any person who is a lessee subletting or reassigning any part or all of any dwelling or dwelling unit shall be deemed to be a co-owner with the lessor and shall have joint responsibility over the portion of the premises sublet or assigned by said lessee.
PARTIES IN INTEREST
All individuals, associations and corporations who have interests of record in a building and any who are in actual possession thereof.
PERSON
The same meaning as defined in New Jersey Statutes Annotated 1:1-2.
PREMISES
Any lot, plot or parcel of land and any buildings located thereon.
PUBLIC OFFICER
The Construction Code Official and/or the Zoning Officer who are authorized by this chapter to exercise the powers prescribed by this code.
[Amended 7-10-2007 by Ord. No. 2007-19]
REFUSE
All putrescible and nonputrescible solid wastes (except body wastes), including but not limited to garbage, rubbish, ashes, street cleanings, dead animals, abandoned automobiles and solid market and industrial wastes, brush, weeds, broken glass, stumps, trash, building materials and debris of any description.
RUBBISH
All combustible and noncombustible waste material, except garbage.
STRUCTURE
An assembly of materials forming a construction, including but not limited to buildings, stadiums, gospel and circus tents, reviewing stands, platforms, stagings, observation towers, radio towers, water tanks, trestles, open sheds, bins, shelters, fences and display racks and signs, built or constructed and permanently affixed on or under the ground or upon another structure or building.
TRANSLUCENT
That property of admitting the passage of light but diffusing it so that objects beyond it cannot be clearly distinguished.
WATER CLOSET COMPARTMENT
An enclosure containing a single water closet.
WEATHERING
Deterioration, decay or damage caused by exposure to the elements.
WINDOW
An opening in the wall or roof of a building for the admission of light, which opening may be closed to the elements by casements or sashes containing glass or other transparent material.
WINDOW DISPLAY AREA
That area of a building in proximity to the inner surface of a window which is designed or used for the viewing of the interior and the display of items representative of any goods or services pertaining to the business therein.
B. 
Word usage. Whenever, in describing or referring to any person, party, matter or thing, any word importing the singular number or masculine gender is used, the same shall be understood to include and to apply to several persons or parties as well as to one person, and to females as well as males and to bodies corporate as well as individuals, and to several matters and things as well as one matter or thing. The word "shall" shall be applied retroactively as well as prospectively.
A. 
The exterior of the premises shall be kept free of litter (including, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, discarded, windblown, deposited, dropped or strewn paper, wrappings, cardboard, bottles, cans, boxes and broken glass) and of all nuisances and hazards to the safety of tenants, occupants, pedestrians and other persons having access to the premises, and free of unsanitary conditions; and any of the foregoing shall be promptly removed and abated. The word "hazards" shall include but is not limited to the following:
(1) 
Refuse.
(2) 
Dead and dying trees and other natural growth which, by reason of rotting or deteriorating conditions or storm damage, are or may be dangerous to persons in the vicinity thereof. Trees kept pruned and trimmed to prevent such conditions.
(3) 
Loose overhanging and projecting objects and accumulations of ice and snow, which, by reason of location above ground level, constitute dangers to persons in the vicinity thereof.
(4) 
Holes, mounds, excavations, breaks, projections, obstructions and excretions of pets and other animals on paths, sidewalks, walks, driveways, parking lots and parking areas and other parts of the exterior of the premises which are accessible to and used by persons having access to such premises.
(5) 
Accumulations of stormwater. Adequate runoff drains shall be provided and maintained in accordance with the Standard Building Code of New Jersey or with any other building code adopted by the Borough of Park Ridge, to eliminate recurrent accumulations of stormwater.
(6) 
Sources of infestation.
(7) 
Structurally unsound, defective or damaged foundation walls. Foundation walls shall be kept structurally sound, free from defects and damage and capable of bearing imposed loads safely.
(8) 
Structurally unsound or defective chimneys. Chimneys and flue and vent attachments thereto shall be maintained structurally sound, free from defects and so maintained as to capably perform at all times the functions for which they were designed and constructed. Chimneys, flues, gas vents and other draft-producing equipment shall provide sufficient draft to develop the rated output of the connected equipment and shall be structurally safe, durable, smoketight and capable of withstanding the action of flue gases.
(9) 
Defective or deteriorating porches, stairs and fire escapes. Exterior porches, landings, balconies, stairs and fire escapes shall be provided with banisters or railings properly designed and maintained structurally sound, in good repair, well painted or otherwise provided with a protective treatment to prevent deterioration and free from defects.
(10) 
Accumulations of dirt, stones and debris in streets and gutters. Dirt, stones and debris shall be prevented from accumulating in streets and gutters and should be removed by abutting property owner.
B. 
Where it shall be necessary and expedient for the preservation of the public health, safety and general welfare or to eliminate a fire hazard, to remove from lands within the Borough of Park Ridge, or to destroy brush, weeds, including ragweed, dead and dying trees, stumps, roots and obnoxious growths, filth, garbage, trash and debris, the Public Officer may order the owner or occupant of said lands to remove or destroy said items. In the event that said order is not complied with within a period of 10 days after served, the Public Officer may provide for the removal or destruction of the same.
(1) 
In all cases where brush, weeds, including ragweed, dead and dying trees, stumps, roots, obnoxious growth, filth, garbage, trash and debris are destroyed or removed from any lands under the provisions of this chapter by or under the direction of the Public Officer, such officer shall certify the cost thereof to the governing body, which shall examine the certificate and, if found correct, shall cause the cost as shown thereon to be charged against said land; the amount so charged shall forthwith become and form part of the taxes next to be assessed and levied upon such land, the same to bear interest at the same rate as taxes, and shall be collected and enforced by the same officers and in the same manner as taxes.
C. 
Stormwater runoff from any individual property must be maintained and controlled on that property and not adversely impact any adjacent property. Under no circumstances shall stormwater and/or leaders be directed to any adjacent properties.
[Added 7-10-2007 by Ord. No. 2007-19]
D. 
Any person who shall violate this section shall be subject to penalties as set forth in Article VII of this code.
The exterior of the premises shall be maintained so that the appearance thereof shall reflect a level of maintenance in keeping with the standards of the neighborhood or such higher standards as may be adopted by the Borough of Park Ridge and such that the appearance thereof shall not constitute a blighting effect upon neighboring properties nor an element leading to a progressive deterioration and downgrading of neighboring properties with an accompanying diminution of property values, including the following:
A. 
The landscaping of premises shall be maintained in an orderly state, with lawns and bushes trimmed and free from becoming overgrown, littered and unsightly where such would constitute a blighting effect, depreciating nearby and adjoining property. Open areas shall be graded evenly to eliminate holes, depressions, gullies, mounds, accumulations of debris or other unsightly or unsafe conditions.
[Amended 11-14-2011 by Ord. No. 2011-032]
B. 
Repair and painting of exterior of buildings. All store fronts and the exteriors of all buildings shall be kept in good repair, painted when required or otherwise provided with protective treatment sufficient to prevent deterioration and to not constitute a safety hazard or nuisance. In the event repairs to a store front become necessary, such repairs shall be made in harmony with the original design or with such other design as may be approved by an architectural review board or such other, board, agency, commission or committee as designated by the Mayor and Council. In no event shall any work or repair be done without first submitting the plan to said architectural review board or such board, agency, commission or committee as may be designated by the Mayor and Council as above stated.
C. 
Signs. All signs, including the structural and supporting components thereof, and all light stanchions and poles shall be maintained in good repair.
D. 
Awnings and marquees. Any awning or marquee and its accompanying structural members which extend over any street, sidewalk or other portion of the premises shall be maintained in good repair and shall be so maintained as to not constitute a nuisance or a safety hazard. In the event any such awning or marquee is not properly maintained in accordance with the foregoing, it shall, together with its supporting members, be removed forthwith. In the event any such awning or marquee is made of cloth, plastic or of similar materials, said materials, where exposed to public view, shall be maintained in good condition and shall not show evidence of excessive weathering, discoloration, ripping, tearing or other deterioration. Nothing herein shall be construed to authorize any encroachment of an awning, marquee or its accompanying structural members on streets, sidewalks or other parts of the public domain.
E. 
Scaffolding. No temporary painting scaffold or other temporary equipment used for construction, repair or maintenance shall be permitted to remain in place beyond the period of six months after erection or placement thereof, without permission of the Public Officer.
The exterior of every building shall be maintained in good repair, and all exterior surfaces thereof shall be kept painted or otherwise provided with a protective treatment where necessary for purposes of preservation and appearance. All exterior surfaces thereof shall be maintained free from broken glass, loose shingles or siding, crumpling masonry, excessively peeling paint or other condition reflective of deterioration or inadequate maintenance, to the end that the building itself may be preserved, safety and fire hazards eliminated and adjoining properties and the neighborhood protected from blighting influence.
A. 
Floors shall be maintained in a structurally sound condition, capable of safely bearing imposed loads and shall be maintained at all times in a condition so as to be free of hazards.
B. 
Bathroom and water closet compartment floors shall be surfaced with water-resistant material and shall be kept in a dry, clean and sanitary condition at all times.
C. 
Supporting structural members shall be kept structurally sound, free from deterioration and capable of safely bearing imposed loads.
D. 
In buildings containing not more than four occupancy units, it shall be the responsibility of each of the occupants, and in buildings containing more than four occupancy units, it shall be the responsibility of the owner and operator, to furnish such receptacles as are needed for the proper storage of garbage and rubbish until removal thereof, and to provide for the periodic removal of all garbage and rubbish from the premises, in accordance with the regulations and ordinances of the Borough of Park Ridge.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: See Ch. 64, Garbage, Rubbish and Trash.
E. 
Storage bins, rooms and areas shall not be used for the storage of accumulated garbage and rubbish unless:
(1) 
Such garbage is stored in watertight receptacles of metal or other material approved by the Public Officer and provided with tight-fitting covers.
(2) 
Such rubbish is stored in nonleaking receptacles of metal or other material approved by the Public Officer.
(3) 
Such storage bins, rooms and areas are of smooth, easily cleanable construction and are kept in a sanitary condition.
(4) 
Such areas, if located outside of a building and visible from any public walk, street or public parking area, are shielded by a method approved by the Public Officer and constructed in compliance with the applicable provisions of the Standard Building Code of New Jersey or of any building code subsequently adopted by the Borough of Park Ridge.[2]
[2]
Editor's Note: See Ch. 50, Construction Codes, Uniform.
F. 
Rubbish and garbage shall be placed or kept on the property within the building located thereon or not nearer to the street line than the building line or nearer to the street line than the face of the building, whichever distance from the street line is greater, except during any cleanup week proclaimed by the Borough Council.
G. 
Flammable or combustible liquids or other materials shall not be stored on the premises unless they are of a type approved for storage by regulation of the Fire Department and then only in such quantities and in such fireproof storage containers as may be prescribed by applicable Fire Department regulations.
H. 
Every occupant of a single occupancy unit in a building comprising a single occupancy unit shall be responsible for the extermination of any insects, rodents or other pests therein or on the premises; and each occupant of an occupancy unit in any building which has more than one occupancy unit shall be responsible for the extermination whenever his occupancy unit is the only one infested. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this subsection, whenever infestation is caused by failure of the owner or operator to maintain any such building in a reasonably pestproof condition, extermination shall be the responsibility of the owner or operator. Whenever infestation exists in two or more of the occupancy units in any building or in the common parts of any building containing two or more occupancy units, extermination thereof shall be the responsibility of the owner or operator.
A. 
Every building shall be provided with electric service, where required, in accordance with the standards set up by the Department of Public Utilities of the Borough of Park Ridge, the Construction Code Official of the Borough of Park Ridge and any codes or ordinances adopted heretofore or hereinafter by the Borough Council of the Borough of Park Ridge.
[Amended 5-14-1979 by Ord. No. 79-4]
B. 
Every bathroom and water closet compartment shall be provided with permanently installed and operating artificial lighting fixtures with switches and wall plates so located and maintained that there is no danger of electrical shock from a simultaneous contact with a water supply fixture.
C. 
Maximum fuse sizes, as specified by those persons or entities enumerated in Subsection A above, shall be posted conspicuously on the inside cover of all fuse boxes, and no fuse shall be installed therein in excess of the stated maximum. Owners and operators shall not be held responsible for violations in fuse sizes where the correct maximum size is stated and the fuse box is located within any part of the building which is the exclusive possession of an occupant or occupants other than the owner.
A. 
Upon discovery of an occupant of any condition on the premises which constitutes a violation of this code, the occupant shall report the same to the Public Officer responsible for the enforcement of this code.
B. 
All parts of the premises under the control of an occupant shall be kept in a clean, sanitary and safe condition by the occupant, and the occupant shall refrain from performing any acts which would render other parts of the premises unclean, unsanitary or unsafe or which would prevent the owner or operator from performing any duty required hereunder.