Pursuant to Section 11 of the Uniform Fire Safety Act (P.L. 1983, c. 383), the
New Jersey Uniform Fire Code shall be locally enforced in the Township
of Greenwich.
[Amended 6-16-2014 by Ord. No. 7-2014]
The local enforcing agency shall consist of
the Fire Official and Fire Inspectors.
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 Greenwich, 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.
[Amended 3-16-2020 by Ord. No. 1-2020]
A. Required inspections. All firesafety uses shall be inspected annually
for compliance with the provisions of this chapter and the Uniform
Fire Safety Act. When, in the opinion of the Fire Official, there exist
conditions likely to cause fire, contribute to the spread of fire,
interfere with firefighting operations, endanger life or violate the
provisions or intent of this chapter, additional inspections may be
made as often as necessary for the purpose of ascertaining these conditions
and causing them to be corrected.
B. Payment of fees. The owner of the building is responsible to register
and pay the fee for buildings containing common or public areas. The
owner/tenant/occupant is responsible to register and pay the fee for
the space occupied by the tenant/occupant. All registrations will
be for a period of one year and are not subject to refund or proration.
C. Registration of buildings and annual fees.
(1) Every owner or tenant/occupant subject to this chapter shall file
with the local enforcing agency, using forms provided by the local
enforcing agency, for a certification or registration. The application
shall include but not be limited to the name, address and telephone
number of the applicant; name, address and telephone number of the
business; owners of the business; description of the business; the
name, address and telephone number of the person responsible for the
business; and emergency contact information as requested.
(2) If the owner or tenant/occupant subject to this chapter fails to
complete the registration within 30 days of the date on which it was
mailed, the local enforcing agency shall order the owner or tenant/occupant
to pay a penalty equal to double the scheduled registration fee.
(3) Every owner or tenant/occupant subject to this chapter shall pay
to the local enforcing agency an annual registration fee in the amount
specified in this chapter. Said annual registration fee shall be paid
by the date specified in the invoice, which shall in no event be less
than 30 days from the date on which it was mailed.
D. Enforcement. If any annual registration fee or any penalty for nonregistration
is not paid within 30 days of its stated due date, the same may be
sued for and recovered by and in the name of the local enforcing agency
in a civil action by a summary proceeding under the Penalty Enforcement
Law (N.J.S.A. 2A:58-1 et seq.) in the Township of Greenwich Municipal
Court.
[Amended 8-15-1988 by Ord. No. 12-1988; 6-16-2014 by Ord. No. 7-2014]
The local enforcing agency established by §
375-2 of this chapter shall be part of the Department of Public Safety and shall be under the direct supervision and control of the Fire Official, who shall report to the Director of Public Safety.
[Amended 8-15-1988 by Ord. No. 12-1988; 6-16-2014 by Ord. No. 7-2014]
A. Appointment of Fire Official. The local enforcing agency shall be
under the supervision of the Fire Official, who shall be appointed
by the Mayor of the Township with the advice and consent of Council.
In making this appointment, the appointing authority shall make the
appointment from recommendation of the Director of Public Safety.
B. Term of office. The Fire Official shall serve for a term of one year.
Any vacancy shall be filled for the unexpired term.
C. Inspectors and employees. Such inspectors and other employees as
may be necessary in the local enforcing agency shall be appointed
by the Mayor of the Township of Greenwich with the advice and consent
of the Council.
D. Removal from office. The Fire Official, inspectors and other employees
of the enforcing agency shall be subject to removal by the Mayor and
Council upon recommendation of the Director of Public Safety 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, any person aggrieved by any order of the local enforcing
agency shall have the right to appeal to the Gloucester County Construction
Board of Appeals.
[Amended 8-15-1988 by Ord. No. 12-1988; 11-1-2004 by Ord. No.
18-2004; 9-21-2009 by Ord. No. 22-2009]
In addition to the inspection and fees required pursuant to
the Act and Regulations of the Department of Community Affairs and/or
Division of Fire Safety, additional inspections and fees shall be
required as follows:
B. Use Group B: Business (including office trailers) as defined as places
where services are provided.
[Amended 3-16-2020 by Ord. No. 1-2020]
(1) One- and two-story, less than 5,000 square feet per floor: $50.
(2) One- and two-story, more than 5,000 square feet and less than 10,000
square feet per floor: $100.
(3) One- and two-story, more than 10,000 and less than 11,999 square
feet per floor: $150.
(4) Three- to five-story, less than 5,000 square feet per floor: $200.
(5) Three- to five-story, more than 5,000 and less than 10,000 square
feet per floor: $300.
(6) Three- to five-story, more than 10,000 and less than 11,999 square
feet per floor: $400.
C. Use Group F: Factory/Industrial.
(1) One- and two-story, less than 5,000 square feet per floor: $150.
(2) One- and two-story, more than 5,000 and less than 10,000 square feet
per floor: $200.
(3) One- and two-story, more than 10,000 and less than 11,999 square
feet per floor: $300.
(4) Three- to five-story, less than 5,000 square feet per floor: $350.
(5) Three- to five-story, more than 5,000 and less than 10,000 square
feet per floor: $400.
(6) Three- to five-story, more than 10,000 and less than 11,999 square
feet per floor: $500.
D. Use Group M: Mercantile, defined as places where goods are displayed
and sold.
[Amended 3-16-2020 by Ord. No. 1-2020]
(1) One- and two-story, less than 5,000 square feet per floor: $125.
(2) One- and two-story, more than 5,000 and less than 10,000 square feet
per floor: $150.
(3) One- and two-story. more than 10,000 and less than 11,999 square
feet per floor: $175.
(4) Three- to five-story, less than 5,000 square feet per floor: $200.
(5) Three- to five-story, more than 5,000 and less than 10,000 square
feet per floor: $225.
(6) Three- to five-story, more than 10,000 and less than 11,999 square
feet per floor: $250.
E. Use Group R-1: Hotels, Motels and Lodging facilities.
(3) Thirteen to 20 units: $150.
(4) Twenty-one to 50 units: $200.
(5) Fifty-one to 70 units: $250.
(6) Seventy-one to 90 units: $300.
(7) Each additional unit beyond 90 units: $5 per unit.
F. Use Group R-2: Residential Multiple-family units (fee per building).
(2) Five to seven units: $100.
G. Use Group R-3: One- and Two-Family Dwelling Units, Non-owner occupied
(one- and two-story):
(1) Up to 6,000 square feet: $100.
(2) More than 6,000 square feet and less than 10,000 square feet: $150.
(3) More than 10,000 square feet and less than 11, 999 square feet: $200.
H. Use Group R-4: One- and Two-Family Dwelling Units, Non-owner occupied
(three- to five-story):
(1) Up to 6,000 square feet: $100.
(2) More than 6,000 square feet and less than 10,000 square feet: $150.
(3) More than 10,000 square feet and less than 11,999 square feet: $200.
I. Use Group S-1 (moderate-hazard storage, including storage trailers):
[Amended 3-16-2020 by Ord. No. 1-2020]
(1) One- and two-story, less than 5,000 square feet per floor: $125.
(2) One- and two-story, more than 5,000 and less than 10,000 square feet
per floor: $225.
(3) One- and two-story, more than 10,000 and less than 11,999 square
feet per floor: $325.
(4) Three- to five-story, less than 5,000 square feet per floor: $375.
(5) Three- to five-story, more than 5,000 and less than 10,000 square
feet per floor: $425.
(6) Three- to five-story, more than 10,000 and less than 11,999 square
feet per floor: $500.
J. Use Group S-2 (low-hazard storage, including storage trailers):
[Amended 3-16-2020 by Ord. No. 1-2020]
(1) One- and two-story, less than 5,000 square feet per floor: $100.
(2) One- and two-story, more than 5,000 and less than 10,000 square feet
per floor: $200.
(3) One- and two-story, more than 10,000 and less than 11,999 square
feet per floor: $300.
(4) Three- to five-story, less than 5,000 square feet per floor: $350.
(5) Three- to five-story, more than 5,000 and less than 10,000 square
feet per floor: $400.
(6) Three- to five-story, more than 10,000 and less than 11,999 square
feet per floor: $500.
K. Uses not classified in Subsections
A through
J shall be classified as business uses. Uses required to register with the State of New Jersey as Life Hazard Uses shall not be required to register under this section.
L. Vacant buildings shall be charged per square footage and inspected
according to the previous use of the building.
M. Definitions. All use group definitions shall be those set forth in
the Uniform Fire Code, N.J.A.C. 5:70-1.5. In the event that the definitions
in the Administrative Code are hereafter amended, this chapter shall,
likewise, be deemed amended to conform to any newly phrased definitions.
[Amended 3-16-2020 by Ord. No. 1-2020]
(1) Firesafety
use groups defined. For the purposes of uniformity, use groups of
all buildings contained in this section of this chapter shall be defined
using the 2015 International Code Council code and amendments subsequent
thereto. Such buildings shall be subject to the registration and periodic
inspection requirements established by this chapter. Where two or
more firesafety uses exist at the same building or premises, each
one shall be considered as separate and distinct for the purposes
of this chapter and shall be registered pursuant to the provisions
of this chapter.
(2) Doubtful
firesafety use classification. When a building or structure is not
specifically classified within a firesafety use group, such building
or structure shall be included in the firesafety use group it most
nearly resembles in respect to the existing life and fire hazard,
and it shall be so classified by the Fire Official.
[Amended 11-1-2004 by Ord. No. 18-2004; 9-21-2009 by Ord. No.
22-2009]
The permit fees charged shall be those established by the Uniform
Fire Code. Application fees for the permits are listed in N.J.A.C.
5:70-2.7(b) and shall be paid as provided for in that regulation.
Current regulations establish the following application fees for permits:
[Added 11-1-2004 by Ord. No. 18-2004; amended 9-21-2009 by Ord. No. 22-2009]
Application fees for issuance of a Certificate
of Fire Code Status: $35.
[Added 11-1-2004 by Ord. No. 18-2004; 9-21-2009 by Ord. No. 22-2009]
A. Penalties for violation of the regulations in this
chapter shall be assessed in accordance with N.J.A.C. 5:70-2.12 (a
through g, inclusive), as amended.
B. Violation of fire lane/zone regulations established
under the Uniform Fire Code shall incur penalty of $100 per offense.
The Township Attorney shall act as the legal
advisor to the local enforcing agency and undertake such actions at
law as the Fire Official shall deem necessary to gain compliance with
the code.
[Added 12-17-2018 by Ord.
No. 11-2018]
No insurance company shall make payment on any claim in excess
of $2,500 for fire damages on any real property located within the
Township of Greenwich until such time as all taxes and assessments
and all other municipal liens or charges due and payable as appearing
on the official certificate of search shall have been paid either
by the owner of such real property or by the insurance company, pursuant
to N.J.S.A. 17:36-8 et seq.