[HISTORY: Adopted by the Borough of Rutherford Council 9-15-1959 by Ord. No. 1784. Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Alarm equipment installation — See Ch. 6.
Licensing of builders — See Ch. 19.
Uniform Construction Code — See Ch. 22.
Construction in flood hazard areas — See Ch. 37.
Numbering of buildings and lots — See Ch. 63A.
Public amusement structures — See Ch. 79.
Unfit dwellings — See Ch. 123.
A code regulating the design, construction, alteration, enlargement, repair and conversion of buildings and structures and the kind and quality of materials to be used therein is hereby established pursuant to c. 21, P.L. 1946, as amended, (N.J.S.A. 40:49-5.1 to 40:49-5.3). A copy of said code is annexed hereto and made a part hereof without inclusion of the text thereof herein, with additions, deletions and changes hereinafter set forth.
[Amended 4-15-1969 by Ord. No. 2020]
The said code established and adopted by this chapter is described and designated as "Abridged Building Code," 1955 Edition, as published by the Building Officials Conference of America, Inc., and in addition, Standard Building Code of New Jersey, 1964, Section E, entitled "Plumbing."
Three copies of the said Abridged Building Code, similarly marked, have been placed on file in the office of the Clerk of the Borough of Rutherford upon the introduction of this chapter and will remain on file there until final action is taken on said chapter, for the use and examination of the public.
[Amended 6-19-1962 by Ord. No. 1858]
Sections 104.5, 106.6, 106.7, 106.8, 110.55, 116.0, 117.0 and 121.4 of said Abridged Building Code are hereby deleted.
The following sections of said Abridged Building Code are hereby revised and hereinafter set forth.
A. 
The first sentence of Section 104-2 of the Abridged Building Code adopted by the ordinance of which this ordinance is amendatory, be and it is hereby amended to read as follows: "No building or structure or part thereof shall hereafter be erected, converted, repaired, altered or enlarged until a building permit has been obtained by the owner, his agent duly authorized in writing, his builder, his contractor or the subcontractor of the contractor or builder."
[Amended 6-19-1962 by Ord. No. 1858]
B. 
Section 104.3. Approved Plans. The third sentence is revised to read as follows: "A building permit shall become void unless operations are commenced within two months from date of approval, unless such time is extended by the building official." The following sentence is added to said section at the end of the fourth sentence thereof: "The building under construction for which the permit was issued shall be substantially completed within two years from the date of the issuance of said permit or said permit shall become void and a new permit required for completion of said building with fees payable for the amount of the estimated cost of construction to complete the work."
[Amended 12-18-1962 by Ord. No. 1874; 4-16-1968 by Ord. No. 1999-68]
Section 104.6. Fees. The following schedule of permit fees is hereby established:
A. 
New buildings, residential and residential accessory uses. For each new building or structure, a fee of $2 per 100 square feet of floor area. In estimating the area of a building, the cellar or basement and each story above the same, including the attic, if any, is to be included. Open porches and stoops are not to be included as part of the area of the building.
[Amended 2-6-1973 by Ord. No. 2111-73]
B. 
New buildings, commercial and industrial. For each new building or structure, a fee of $5 per 100 square feet of floor area. In estimating the area of a building, the cellar or basement and each story above the same is to be included.
[Amended 2-6-1973 by Ord. No. 2111-73[2]]
[2]
Editor's Note: This ordinance replaced former Subsection B which provided a fee for moving of buildings.
C. 
Signs and billboards.
(1) 
For the erection of each new sign or billboard, a fee of $5.
(2) 
For the erection of each new illuminated sign or illuminated billboard, a fee of $10.
D. 
Alterations, additions and repairs.
(1) 
For alterations, additions or repairs to any building structure at a cost up to $500, a minimum fee of $5.
(2) 
For alterations, additions or repairs to any building structure at a cost of $501 to $1,000 a minimum fee of $10.
(3) 
For alterations, additions or repairs to any building structure, a fee of $5 for each additional $1,000 of the estimated cost.
E. 
Demolition of structure or building.
[Amended 2-6-1973 by Ord. No. 2111-73]
(1) 
For the demolition of a structure or building, a minimum fee of $25.
(2) 
For the demolition of private garages and sheds in residential areas, a minimum fee of $5.
F. 
No fee shall be less than $5.
[1]
Editor's Note: For current provisions, see Ch. 22, Construction Codes, Uniform, § 22-5.
A. 
Section 107.1. Fire District Subdivision. The second sentence is revised to read as follows: "Such areas shall be designated as 'within the fire limits' and shall be bounded and described as follows: Commencing at the Erie Railroad and Chestnut Street and running thence (1) along the center line of Chestnut Street to the center line of Park Avenue; thence (2) along the center line of Park Avenue to the center line of The Terrace; thence (3) along the center line of The Terrace to the center line of East Passaic Avenue; thence (4) along the center line of East Passaic Avenue to the center line of Feronia Way; thence (5) along the center line of Feronia Way to the Erie Railroad; and thence (6) along the Erie Railroad to the center line of Chestnut Street, the point or place of beginning."
[Amended 10-6-1964 by Ord. No. 1924]
B. 
Section 110.51. Wall Footings. The entire section is revised to read as follows: "Concrete footings for load-bearing walls shall be of adequate dimensions to distribute the load and unless required by local conditions shall be not less than eight inches thick and shall be no less than eight inches wider than the thickness of the foundation wall resting thereon; provided, however, that all footings, shall have sufficient spread so that the load on soil will not exceed the provisions of this ordinance."
C. 
Section 110.6. Foundation Walls. The first sentence is revised by the deletion of the exception thereto.
D. 
Section 110.62. Hollow or Solid Masonry and Plain Concrete. The entire section is revised to read as follows:
(1) 
Foundation walls for frame buildings shall be below grade level, not less than 12 inches thick if built of brick, cement blocks, or hollow tile, and not less than 16 inches thick if built of stone. Above grade level said foundation walls, if not over three feet high, shall not be less than eight inches thick if built of brick, concrete blocks or hollow title, and not less than 12 inches thick if built of stone. If the clear span of floor beams resting on any foundation wall exceeds 16 feet, or the wall above grade exceeds three feet high, said foundation wall shall not be less than 12 inches thick.
(2) 
Solid concrete foundation walls run between forms may be 10 inches thick for the entire height, instead of as above.
(3) 
Foundation walls of approved hollow masonry units shall be provided with not less than four inches of solid masonry at girder bearings or shall be strengthened with buttresses.
E. 
Section 118.59. Water Connections. The section is revised by the addition of the following at the end thereof: "nor shall it be discharged into any sanitary drainage system."
F. 
Electric wiring and apparatus.
[Added 3-4-1969 by Ord. No. 2015]
(1) 
No electric wiring for light, heat or power shall be installed hereafter in any building or structure, or for any outdoor electrical signs, nor shall any alteration or extension of an existing electric wiring system be made except in conformity with the requirements of the National Electrical Code, being the standard of the National Board of Fire Underwriters for electric wiring and apparatus as recommended by the National Fire Protection Association, hereafter in this chapter referred to as "the code," which is hereby enacted and adopted by this reference thereto, save and except for Article 230, Section 2304(a)(4), of the aforesaid code which is enacted and adopted as hereinafter modified. The said Article 230, Section 2304(a)(4), of said code is hereby modified to read as follows:
The neutral conductor shall have a current-carrying capacity in conformity with Section 2203-g, but shall not be smaller than the underground conductors when these are No. 8 or smaller. It is required that a minimum of 100 amp. 3-wire service be provided for all individual residents.
(2) 
The materials, fittings and devices enumerated in the List of Inspected Appliances of the Underwriters Laboratories, Inc., shall be used in electrical installations under this chapter.
(3) 
The Middle Department Association of Fire Underwriters, upon request, shall, during installation of any electric wiring system, make or cause an inspection to be made to assure compliance with the National Electrical Code.
(4) 
No electrical wiring shall be concealed unless inspected and approved by the National Board of Fire Underwriters. A duplicate record of such approval shall be filed with the Building Inspector.
(5) 
The Middle Department Association of Fire Underwriters shall, within a reasonable time after notice of the completion of electrical work, make or cause to be made an inspection of such work and such tests as may be necessary to determine that it conforms to the provisions of the aforesaid National Electrical Code, and shall make or cause to be made a reinspection of any electric wiring installation whenever it deems it necessary in the interest of public safety.
(6) 
The Building Inspector shall have power to stop electrical work when he is notified by the Middle Department Association of Fire Underwriters that such work is not being installed in conformity with the National Electrical Code.
(7) 
If an existing electric wiring system upon inspection is found to be defective and unsafe, upon notification by the Building Inspector such system shall be discontinued until it has been corrected and made to conform to the requirements of the National Electrical Code and approved by the Middle Department Association of Fire Underwriters.
All fees, penalties and moneys collected under any provision of this chapter or the code established herein shall be paid to the Treasurer of the Borough of Rutherford.
All ordinances and parts of ordinances inconsistent with any of the provisions of this chapter and the code established herein are hereby repealed to the extent of such inconsistency.
In the event that any section, sentence or clause of this chapter or the code established herein shall be declared unconstitutional by a court of competent jurisdiction, such declaration shall not in any manner prejudice the enforcement of the remaining provisions.
Any person or persons, firm, association or corporation violating any of the provisions of this chapter or the code established herein shall be subject to a fine of not exceeding $200 or imprisonment in the county jail for a period of not exceeding 90 days, or both.
This chapter shall take effect immediately upon publication according to law.