[HISTORY: Adopted by the Township Committee or Township Council of the Township of River Vale as indicated in article histories. Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Fire Department — See Ch. 17.
Fire Department bylaws — See Ch. 18.
Uniform construction codes — See Ch. 90.
[Adopted 7-25-1985 by Ord. No. 0-9-1985 (Ch. 32, Art. I, of the 1967 Code)]
Pursuant to Section 11 of the Uniform Fire Safety Act (P.L. 1983, c. 383; N.J.S.A. 52:27D-192 et seq.), the New Jersey Uniform Fire Code shall be locally enforced in the Township of River Vale.
[Amended 7-11-2022 by Ord. No. 401-2022]
The local enforcing agency shall be the Bureau of Fire Prevention of the Township of River Vale.
The local enforcement agency shall enforce the Uniform Fire Safety Act and the codes and regulations adopted under it in all buildings, structures and premises within the established boundaries of the Township of River Vale, other than owner-occupied one- and two-family dwellings, and shall faithfully comply with the requirements of the Uniform Fire Safety Act and the Uniform Fire Code.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Section 9 of Ord. No. 0-9-85 provided that the Uniform Fire Code shall supersede former Ch. 32 (now this Ch. 112) of the Code of the Township of River Vale in all areas where there is some conflict, but all other sections of Ch. 112 shall remain in full force and effect where there is no conflict with the Uniform Fire Safety Code. Where Ch. 112 provides more stringent requirements than the Uniform Fire Safety Code, the requirements of Ch. 112 shall be binding.
The local enforcing agency established by § 112-2 of this article shall carry out the periodic inspections of life-hazard uses required by the Uniform Fire Code on behalf of the Commissioner of Community Affairs.
[Amended 7-11-2022 by Ord. No. 401-2022]
The local enforcing agency established by § 112-2 of this article shall be under the direct supervision and control of the Fire Marshal, reporting to the Mayor.
A. 
The local enforcing agency shall be under the direct supervision of the Fire Marshal, who shall be appointed by the Mayor with confirmation of the Township Council.
[Amended 7-11-2022 by Ord. No. 401-2022]
B. 
The Fire Marshal shall serve for a term of one year.
C. 
Such inspectors and other employees as may be necessary in the local enforcing agency shall be appointed by the Mayor upon the recommendation of the Fire Marshal, with confirmation of the Township Council.
[Amended 7-11-2022 by Ord. No. 401-2022]
D. 
Inspectors and other employees of the enforcing agency shall be subject to removal by the Mayor for inefficiency or misconduct. Each inspector or employee to be so removed shall be afforded an opportunity to be heard by the appointing authority or a designated hearing officer.
Pursuant to Sections 15 and 17 of the Uniform Fire Safety Act (N.J.S.A. 52:27D-206 and 52:27D-208, respectively), any person aggrieved by any order of the local enforcement agency shall have the right to appeal to the Construction Board of Appeals of the County of Bergen.
[Amended 6-28-1990 by Ord. No. 0-11-90; 12-22-2003 by Ord. No. 0-22-03]
A. 
The annual registration fee for life-hazard uses shall be as follows, or as amended in the New Jersey Uniform Fire Code, N.J.A.C. 5:70-2.9(a).
B. 
Application fee. The application fee for a permit shall follow the New Jersey Uniform Fire Code 5:70-2.9(c), or as amended by the New Jersey Uniform Fire Code.
[Amended 2-12-2018 by Ord. No. 330-2018]
Permit
Fee
Type 1
$54
Type 2
$214
Type 3
$427
Type 4
$641
C. 
Inspections of commercial establishments not falling under the state-mandated fees shall be made at least once annually; fees are as follows:
[Amended 7-14-2008 by Ord. No. 200-2008]
Type
Square Footage
Registration Fee
A
Less than or equal to 2,000
$95
B
2,001 to 5,000
$145
C
5,001 to 10,000
$220
D
Equal to or more than 10,001
$275
E
Apartment/Multifamily
$45 per apartment; $850 maximum; $135 minimum
D. 
Late registration payment penalty shall be assessed on any registration form which is returned to the Fire Official after 60 days from date of official mailing, as follows:
[Amended 7-14-2008 by Ord. No. 200-2008]
Type
A
B
C
D
E
Penalty:
$95
$145
$220
$275
$45 per unit; $850 maximum; $135 minimum
[Adopted 5-28-1992 by Ord. No. 0-8-92 (Ch. 32, Art. IV of the 1967 Code); amended in its entirety 12-22-2003 by Ord. No. 0-22-03]
The intent of this article is to require smoke-sensitive alarm devices and carbon monoxide detectors in certain structures used for residential purposes in accordance with P.L. 1991, c. 92, as codified at N.J.S.A. 52:27D-192 et seq. and the regulations promulgated thereunder.
In accordance with the provisions of P.L. 1991, c. 92, the Fire Prevention Bureau shall be the enforcing agency for this article.
A. 
As set forth at N.J.A.C. 5:70:4.19, in all structures used or intended to be used for residential purposes by not more than two households which are subject to the requirements of N.J.A.C. 5:70-2.3, smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors shall be installed as follows:
(1) 
On each level of the premises.
(2) 
Outside each separate sleeping area.
B. 
Smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors, when required by Subsection A above, shall be located on or near the ceiling in accordance with National Fire Protection Association Standard 74-1984 and shall be maintained in working order.
C. 
Smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors may be AC-powered or battery-powered and shall be tested and listed by a product certification agency recognized by the State Bureau of Fire Safety.
As set forth at N.J.A.C. 5:70-2.3, before any structure used or intended to be used for residential purposes by not more than two households is sold, leased or otherwise subject to a change of occupancy for residential purposes, the owner shall obtain a certificate of smoke and carbon monoxide detector compliance (hereinafter "CSDCMAC") from the Fire Prevention Bureau.
A. 
As set forth at N.J.A.C. 5:70-2.3, the owner or the authorized agent of the owner shall apply for a CSDC on a form provided by the Fire Prevention Bureau, which application shall be accompanied by the appropriate fee as provided hereinbelow.
B. 
The Fire Prevention Bureau shall inspect the premises for which a certificate has been requested and, upon a finding that the structure complies with the requirements of this article, shall issue a CSDC within 10 business days of the receipt of a completed application and fee.
A. 
As set forth at N.J.A.C. 5:70:4.3, the requirements of this article and N.J.A.C. 5:70-4.19 shall apply to all structures used or intended to be used for residential purposes by not more than two households regardless of their state of compliance with the Uniform Construction Code or any other code.
B. 
As set forth at N.J.A.C. 5:70-4.3, nothing contained therein shall be deemed to prevent the Fire Prevention Bureau from making a finding of imminent hazard pursuant to N.J.A.C. 5:70-2.16 or the Construction Official from making a finding of an unsafe building pursuant to N.J.A.C. 5:23-2.23 and requiring correction of such hazard or unsafe condition in accordance with those regulations.
[Amended 3-14-2005 by Ord. No. 101-2005]
A. 
Request for a CSDCMAC received more than 10 business days prior to the change of occupant: $45.
[Amended 2-12-2018 by Ord. No. 330-2018]
B. 
Request for a CSDCMAC received four business to 10 business days prior to the change of occupant: $90.
[Amended 2-12-2018 by Ord. No. 330-2018]
C. 
Request for a CSDCMAC received fewer than four business days prior to the change of occupant: $161.
[Amended 2-12-2018 by Ord. No. 330-2018]
D. 
If a further inspection is necessary, the application fee for said further inspection shall be $15.
A. 
An owner who sells, leases, rents or otherwise permits to be occupied for residential purposes any premises subject to the provisions of P.L. 1991, c. 92, when the premises do not comply with said statute or the regulations promulgated thereunder, shall be subject to Chapter 1, General Provisions, Article I, § 1-14, which may be collected and enforced by the Fire Prevention Bureau by summary proceedings pursuant to the Penalty Enforcement Law, N.J.S.A. 2A:58-10 et seq.
B. 
In case of continuing violations, each day that the violation persists shall be deemed a separate violation.
C. 
The violator shall become liable to the Township of River Vale for the cost of suppressing any fire directly or indirectly resulting from the violation pursuant to the provisions of N.J.S.A. 52:27D-210.
The provisions of P.L. 1991, c. 92, and the regulations promulgated thereunder, as said statute and regulations may be amended from time to time, are incorporated herein as though set forth at length. In the event of an inconsistency or conflict between the provisions of this article and the provisions of said statute or regulations, the provisions of said statute or regulations shall apply.