[HISTORY: Adopted by the Township Council of the Township of Greenwich 12-21-2020 by Ord. No. 14-2020.[1] Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Unfit buildings — See Ch. 258.
Uniform construction codes — See Ch. 310.
Property maintenance — See Ch. 520.
[1]
Editor's Note: This ordinance also repealed former Ch. 284, Certificates of Occupancy, adopted 10-18-1982 by Ord. No. 17-1982, as amended.
For the purposes of this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
COMMERCIAL OR INDUSTRIAL PURPOSES
All permissible uses of property other than residential or governmental.
EXISTING DWELLING UNITS
Any buildings or structures presently used or used hereafter for habitation by any human beings, whether the same are occupied or to be occupied by an owner or tenant or occupied on any other basis.
A. 
Certificates of occupancy shall hereafter be required for human habitation of all existing dwelling units in the Township of Greenwich before a change in occupancy of any such unit may be affected, allowed or otherwise permitted.
B. 
No person or entity shall occupy or use any building being under 40,000 square feet in size or any portion thereof for commercial or industrial purposes, after such building or portion thereof has been vacated or ownership transferred, until an application has been made and a certificate of occupancy has been secured from the Construction Code Official.
C. 
The certificate of occupancy required herein does not repeal or amend requirements for other certificates of occupancy heretofore provided for by ordinances of this Township or statutes of the State of New Jersey.
A. 
Application for a certificate of occupancy for a change in occupancy shall be made to the Construction Code Official of this Township on a form provided by said Construction Code Official.
B. 
The Construction Code Official shall thereupon cause inspection to be made of the subject dwelling unit to determine if such unit is fit for human habitation and in compliance with all applicable Township ordinances and laws of the State of New Jersey related to maintenance, safety and health.
C. 
The owner of each dwelling unit subject to this chapter is hereby charged with the responsibility for making written application to the Construction Code Official for a certificate of occupancy. In the event that a change of occupancy is also accompanied by a change of ownership of a dwelling unit, the buyer of such dwelling unit may waive the seller's responsibility and assume the same; provided, however, that such waiver is in writing and states that the buyer is fully aware that he, she or it is assuming full responsibility for obtaining a certificate of occupancy pursuant to this chapter, and provided further that such written waiver be filed with the Construction Code Official.
D. 
All applications for certificates of occupancy shall state:
(1) 
The name, address and telephone number of the owner.
(2) 
A description of the location of the building by street number, tax lot and block number and other information as will enable the enforcing officials of the Township to easily locate same.
(3) 
The name and address of any agent, person, firm or corporation, if any, appointed by said owner for the management of same.
(4) 
The name and address of the person or persons to whom it is being rented.
(5) 
The number of persons who will occupy the area being rented.
(6) 
Confirmation that the building or the proposed use of a building or portion thereof complies with all applicable provisions of this chapter.
(7) 
Any other plot plan or engineering data requested by the inspecting officials.
E. 
Application to the Construction Code Official shall be accompanied by a fee of $40.
F. 
The Construction Code Official or his representative shall, within 10 working days of the receipt of a fully completed application for a certificate of occupancy and the accompanying fee, make such inspections as are required herein and, upon determining that the requirements of §§ 284-2B and 284-4 herein have been complied with, shall issue a certificate of occupancy.
G. 
The Construction Code Official shall provide the Township Fire Official with a copy of all certificates of occupancy issued, as the Fire Official will perform the annual renewal inspections thereafter.
A. 
If, upon the inspection or inspections aforesaid, the Construction Code Official or his representative finds the subject dwelling unit is not in compliance, said official or his representative shall within three working days notify the applicant, in writing, of such noncompliance, specifically setting forth the violation or violations which require correction.
B. 
Upon correction of the violation or violations, the applicant shall notify the Construction Code Official, in writing, and shall submit a reinspection fee of $50 with such notification. The Construction Code Official or his representative shall reinspect the dwelling within five working days of receipt of such notification and reinspection fee. This procedure shall be followed until all violations have been corrected, at which time a certificate of occupancy shall be issued.
C. 
All applicants with a scheduled appointment for inspection or reinspection must provide the Office of the Construction Code Official at least one full working day's notice in the event that they cancel their scheduled inspection or reinspection. Failure to provide such notice will result in forfeiture of said fee and require the applicant to reapply.
A. 
Smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors are required in accordance with the New Jersey Uniform Fire Code[1] regulations.
[1]
Editor's Note: See N.J.A.C. 5:70-1 et seq.
B. 
Smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors described by Subsection A shall also be installed in any dwelling unit undergoing renovations, alterations and/or additions requiring expenditures equal to or greater than $1,500.
A. 
Any individual, person, group of persons, association, partnership or corporation, or any combination thereof, charged with the responsibility for obtaining a certificate of occupancy pursuant to this chapter who violates or neglects to comply, or takes part in or assists in violating, any provision hereof shall, upon conviction thereof, be liable for a penalty of not less than $75 nor more than $1,000, imprisonment for a term not in excess of 90 days or a period of community service not exceeding 90 days for each violation. Each day on which a violation hereof exists or occurs shall be deemed to be a separate violation.
B. 
In addition to any penalties which may be imposed herein, the provisions of this chapter may be enforced in an appropriate civil proceeding through injunctive relief or such other relief as the court deems proper.
The Construction Code Official shall furnish copies of all regulations referred to herein to any person for fees in the following amounts:
A. 
For the first through 10th pages: $0.75 per page.
B. 
For the 11th to 20th pages: $0.50 per page.
C. 
For all pages over 20: $0.25 per page.
This chapter is intended to supplement existing ordinances and other laws pertaining to the use, occupancy and maintenance of premises within the Township of Greenwich and shall not be construed to excuse any person from complying with such other laws.