[Adopted 12-17-1985 by Ord. No. 85-85A]
The Bureau of Fire Prevention is hereby created
to locally enforce the New Jersey Uniform Fire Code in accordance
with Section 11 of the Uniform Fire Safety Act. The Bureau of Fire Prevention shall be the local enforcement
agency and shall consist of a Fire Official and such inspectors and
other employees as may be appointed by the Mayor and Township Council.
The Bureau of Fire Prevention, hereinafter referred
to as 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 Stafford, other than owner-occupied, one- and two-family dwellings,
and shall faithfully comply with the requirements of the Uniform Fire
Safety Act and Uniform Fire Code.
The local enforcement agency shall carry out
the periodic inspections of life hazard uses required by the Uniform
Fire Code on behalf of the Commissioner of Community Affairs.
The local enforcement agency shall be under
the direct supervision of the Fire Official.
A. The Fire Official shall be appointed by the Mayor
and Township Council and shall serve for a term of two years. In making
this appointment, the Mayor and Township Council shall give preference
to all recommendations received from all fire companies within the
Township of Stafford. Any vacancy, other than by expiration of term,
shall be filled for the unexpired term.
B. Such inspectors and other employees as may be necessary
in the local enforcement agency shall be appointed by the Mayor and
Township Council upon the recommendation of the Township Administrator.
The terms of office for such inspectors or other employees shall be
two years.
[Amended 4-17-2006 by Ord. No. 2006-21]
C. The Fire Official, inspectors and other employees
of the local enforcement agency shall be subject to removal by the
Mayor and Township Council for inefficiency or misconduct. Each official,
inspector or employee to be so removed shall be afforded an opportunity
to be heard by the Mayor and Township Council or a designated hearing
officer.
D. The Fire Official shall report and be responsible
to the Township Administrator.
[Amended 7-11-1989 by Ord. No. 89-50]
In addition to the inspections and fees required
pursuant to the Uniform Fire Safety Act and the regulations of the
Department of Community Affairs, the following additional inspections
and fees shall be required:
A. Type 6 uses.
(1) Business use as defined in the latest edition of the
BOCA Basic National Building Code, 500 square feet or less total gross
floor area.
(2) Mercantile use as defined in the latest edition of
the BOCA Basic National Building Code, 500 square feet or less total
gross floor area. (Exception: Any Type 6 uses with suppression/detection
systems shall be classified under Type 7.)
B. Type 7 uses.
(1) Business uses as defined in the latest edition of
the BOCA Basic National Building Code, more than 500 square feet but
less than 2,500 square feet total gross floor area.
(2) Mercantile uses as defined in the latest edition of
the BOCA Basic National Building Code, more than 500 square feet but
less than 2,500 square feet total gross floor area.
(3) Storage buildings as defined in the latest edition
of the BOCA Basic National Building Code, less than 2,500 square feet
total gross floor area.
C. Type 8 uses.
(1) Business uses as defined in the latest edition of
the BOCA Basic National Building Code, 2,500 square feet or more,
but less than 5,000 square feet total gross floor area.
(2) Mercantile uses as defined in the latest edition of
the BOCA Basic National Building Code, 2,500 square feet or more,
but less than 5,000 square feet total gross floor area.
(3) Storage buildings as defined in the latest edition
of the BOCA Basic National Building Code, 2,500 square feet or more,
but less than 5,000 square feet total gross floor area.
D. Type 9 uses.
(1) Business uses as defined in the latest edition of
the BOCA Basic National Building Code, 5,000 square feet or more,
but less than 7,500 square feet total gross floor area.
(2) Mercantile uses as defined in the latest edition of
the BOCA Basic National Building Code, 5,000 square feet or more,
but less than 7,500 square feet total gross floor area.
(3) Storage buildings as defined in the latest edition
of the BOCA Basic National Building Code, 5,000 square feet or more,
but less than 7,500 square feet total gross floor area.
(4) Eating and drinking establishments with less than
50 occupants.
E. Type 10 uses.
(1) Business uses as defined in the latest edition of
the BOCA Basic National Building Code, 7,500 square feet or more,
but less than 10,000 square feet total gross floor area.
(2) Mercantile uses as defined in the latest edition of
the BOCA Basic National Building Code, 7,500 square feet or more,
but less than 10,000 square feet total gross floor area.
(3) Storage buildings as defined in the latest edition
of the BOCA Basic National Building Code, 7,500 square feet or more,
but less than 10,000 square feet total gross floor area.
(4) Hotels and motels with 100 rooms or less and not defined
as life hazard uses.
(5) Buildings where less than 100 persons assemble for
the purpose of amusement, entertainment, recreation centers and health
spas.
F. Type 11 uses.
(1) Business uses as defined in the latest edition of
the BOCA Basic National Building Code, 10,000 square feet or more
total gross floor area.
(2) Mercantile uses as defined in the latest edition of
the BOCA Basic National Building Code, 10,000 square feet or more
total gross floor area.
(3) Storage buildings as defined in the latest edition
of the BOCA Basic National Building Code, 10,000 square feet or more
total gross floor area.
(4) Factory and industrial uses as defined in the latest
edition of the BOCA Basic National Building Code, not defined as life
hazard uses.
G. Required inspections. All additional uses as listed
in the aforementioned shall be inspected for compliance with the provisions
of this chapter periodically, but not less than as specified therein.
(1) Type 6 uses: once every 12 months.
[Amended 10-19-2004 by Ord. No. 2004-81]
(2) Type 7 uses: once every 12 months.
(3) Type 8 uses: once every 12 months.
(4) Type 9 uses: once every 12 months.
(5) Type 10 uses: once every 12 months.
(6) Type 11 uses: once every 12 months.
H. Permit fees.
[Amended 10-19-2004 by Ord. No. 2004-81]
(1) Type 6 uses: $75.
[Amended 1-24-2017 by Ord. No. 2017-03]
(2) Type 7 uses: $75.
[Amended 1-24-2017 by Ord. No. 2017-03]
(3) Type 8 uses: $100.
[Amended 1-24-2017 by Ord. No. 2017-03]
(4) Type 9 uses: $125.
[Amended 1-24-2017 by Ord. No. 2017-03]
(5) Type 12 uses: $150.
[Amended 1-24-2017 by Ord. No. 2017-03]
(6) Type 11 uses: $200.
[Amended 1-24-2017 by Ord. No. 2017-03]
(7) Where more than one additional use exists under one
ownership at a given location, the highest use shall be registered
at full fee and subsequent use at 1/2 the scheduled fee.
(8) Strip malls, plazas, suites and multi-stores where the common area
fire detector, fire suppression, and/or maintenance of means of egress
are maintained by the property management landlord will pay fees per
the following schedule:
[Added 1-24-2017 by Ord.
No. 2017-03]
I. Payment of inspection fees; failure to remit; penalties.
[Added 10-19-2004 by Ord. No. 2004-81]
(1) Permit fees delineated within §
111-5 shall be billed on a quarterly basis. Fees shall be due and owing 30 days after the date the bill was issued.
(2) If the above permit fees are not remitted to the Township
within 30 days after the date of issuance, a second notice for payment
shall be issued 45 days after the original date the bill was issued.
If payment is not received within 60 days after the original date
that the bill was issued, a penalty equal to the amount of the original
permit fee shall be assessed. Certificates of inspection shall not
be issued unless all outstanding permit fees and penalty fees, if
applicable, are paid in full.
J. Exemption
for overnight stays for nonprofit corporations and faith-based organizations.
[Added 5-12-2020 by Ord. No. 2020-09]
(1) Fees
shall be waived for overnight stays for nonprofit corporations and
faith-based organizations.
(2) The
following information must be provided for permit application.
(a) Organization name supporting event.
(b) Dates and times of event.
(d) Map showing location of occupants during stay and number of occupants.
(e) Contact information name and phone number of person in charge.
(f) Copy of most recent fire alarm inspection and sprinkler report.
(3) All
information must be submitted to the Stafford Township Bureau of Fire
Prevention a minimum of 10 business days prior to the event so that
an inspection can be scheduled.
[Amended 7-15-1986 by Ord. No. 86-27; 5-6-2003 by Ord. No. 2003-49; 3-16-2004 by Ord. No. 2004-27; 7-17-2018 by Ord. No. 2018-11]
The permit fees established by the Uniform Fire
Code shall be as follows:
Pursuant to Sections 15 and 17 of the Uniform
Fire Safety Act, any person aggrieved by any order of the local enforcement
agency shall have the right to appeal to the Construction Board of
Appeals of Ocean County.
[Added 6-19-2012 by Ord. No. 2012-19]
A. Commercial structures. Identifying emblems shall be permanently affixed
to the front exterior of all commercial structures that have solar
panels.
(1) The emblem shall be in the shape of an isosceles triangle, 12 inches
horizontally by six inches vertically. The emblem shall be of a yellow
reflective background, with a bright orange reflective sun with the
letter "S" inside the sun shape in a bright white reflective material.
The "S" inside the sun shape shall be a minimum of four inches vertically
by four inches horizontally.
(2) The emblem shall be permanently affixed to the front exterior of
the main entrance door of the commercial structure, approximately
six feet above the ground or as designated by the Fire Official and/or
inspectors. The emblem shall be installed and maintained by the owner
of the structure at his or her expense.
(3) Sample emblems shall be available at the office of the Fire Official.
B. Planned real estate developments. Individual structures and dwelling
units with solar panels that are part of a planned real estate development
shall not be required to have an identifying emblem as long as there
is an emblem affixed at each entrance to the development, unless otherwise
required by the Fire Official.
C. Residential structures. Detached one- and two-family residential structures with solar panels that are not part of a planned real estate development shall be exempt from the requirements of Subsection
A above, unless otherwise required by the Fire Official.
[Added 5-12-2020 by Ord. No. 2020-10]
A. A Type
1 fire safety permit is required for all food vendors or food trucks
within the Township of Stafford. Applicants shall submit to the Stafford
Township Bureau of Fire Prevention a completed permit application
along with a fee of $54, unless seeking a yearly application for which
the fee is $225.
B. Any food
vendor or food truck performing cooking operations underneath a tent
must present documentation to the Stafford Township Bureau of Fire
Prevention confirming that the tent materials are flame-resistant.
C. A food
truck utilizing a cooking operation that, by the way of cooking method
or type of food, creates grease laded vapors must be equipped with
an exhaust hood pursuant to N.J.A.C. 5:70-3.1, the International Fire
Code Section 609.1 and NFPA 96, and a kitchen suppression system pursuant
to N.J.A.C. 5:70-3.1 and the International Fire Code Section 904.5.1.
D. The suppression
system of any food trucks must be inspected and tested every six months
by a contractor possessing a valid New Jersey Division of Fire Safety
contractor permit. A report of semiannual inspection shall be provided
to the Bureau of Fire Prevention within the six-month time frame on
all yearly permits pursuant to N.J.A.C. 5:70-3.1 and the International
Fire Code Section 904.5.1.
E. All food
trucks must be equipped with a "K" extinguisher if the truck is equipped
with deep fat fryer pursuant to N.J.A.C. 5:70-3.1 and the International
Fire Code Section 906.4.
F. Propane
cylinders must be inspected for rust, damage, leaks, and alterations
pursuant to NFPA 58-5.2.2.1.
G. Propane
hoses, exposed portions, must be checked for general conditions and
leaks pursuant to NFPA 58-6.18.2.
H. Propane
cylinders valves, regulators, hoses, etc., must be protected from
damage from physical impact, stones, mud, etc., pursuant to NFPA 58-6.21.3B.
I. Regulators
must be installed so that the pressure relief value is pointing downward
and the vent must be protected to prevent dirt, mud, etc., from entering
the valve pursuant to NFPA 58-6.21.4.2.
J. Food trucks
shall be subject to full inspection for all other applicable requirements
in accordance with the New Jersey Uniform Fire Code.