[HISTORY: Adopted by the Mayor and Council of the Borough
of High Bridge 2-9-2006 as Ch. 37 of the 2006 Code of the Borough of High Bridge.
Amendments noted where applicable.]
A continuing certificate of occupancy, hereinafter referred
to as a "CCO," shall be required for all existing dwelling units,
auxiliary structures, commercial buildings and industrial buildings
in the Borough of High Bridge before a change in occupancy or change
of use of any such structure may occur.
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated:
A designated employee or agent of the Borough of High Bridge,
appointed by the Mayor with the advice and consent of Council, whose
responsibility it shall be to review applications for a continuing
certificate of occupancy CCO, conduct inspections of the subject property,
identify code deficiencies and issue a CCO once any deficiencies have
been corrected.
[Amended 6-13-2013 by Ord. No. 2013-13]
Any building, portion of a building or structure used or
used hereafter in any commercial, industrial, retail nonprofit or
any other nonresidential use.
Any building, portion of a building or structure presently
used or used hereafter for habitation by owner occupants, tenants
or occupied on any other basis for habitation. This shall also include
the other auxiliary structures on the property.
A.
The property owner or agent thereof shall obtain a CCO prior to any
change in occupancy, use or tenancy of an existing structure.
B.
An application shall be filed in the administrative office of the
Borough of High Bridge, on such form as is devised by the Borough,
and must be accompanied by a fee of $80 and a certifications from
the Tax Collector and Utilities Collector that all municipal taxes
and utilities are current.
[Amended 6-13-2013 by Ord. No. 2013-13]
A.
The CCO Officer shall cause an inspection to be made within 10 working
days of the receipt of a fully completed application and fee to determine
if the subject property/structure is fit for human habitation and/or
its intended use, in compliance with all applicable Borough of High
Bridge ordinances and the laws of the State of New Jersey relating
to basic safety, health, maintenance and building codes.
B.
The CCO Officer shall inspect to determine that each separate dwelling
unit or commercial unit within the subject property/structure has
its own separate water meter in compliance with current Borough standards
and shall require the water meter for each unit to have two ball valve
shutoff valves located on each of the inlet and outlet of the meter;
provided, however, that owners of one- and two-family dwellings existing
as of January 1, 2020, shall not be required to install separate water
meters for each residential unit but must have at least one water
meter for the entire building. If deficient, the CCO Officer shall
submit a report to the Water Department.
[Amended 12-12-2019 by Ord. No. 2019-041]
C.
Within three working days of the inspection, the CCO Officer shall
issue a continuing certificate of occupancy, if the subject property
is in compliance. If the subject property is in noncompliance, a specific
list of violations shall be submitted, in writing, to the applicant
within three working days of the inspection.
[Amended 6-13-2013 by Ord. No. 2013-13]
D.
Reinspections.
(1)
Upon
correction of all violations, the applicant shall notify the CCO Officer
and submit a reinspection fee of $35. The CCO Officer shall reinspect
the property within five working days of the receipt of such notification
and fee. This procedure shall be followed until all violations have
been corrected at which time a continuing certificate of occupancy
shall be issued or the written plan deemed completed.
[Amended 3-11-2010 by Ord. No. 2010-7]
(2)
The CCO Officer may issue a CCO for a deficient property if the new
owner supplies an acceptable written plan outlining the dates by which
each violation or deficiency will be corrected. The primary purpose
of this subsection is to allow a new owner to occupy the property
while repairs are being made. The CCO Officer shall then monitor the
progress of the plan to determine compliance.
E.
The CCO herein required does not repeal or amend requirements for other certificates of occupancy provided for by other ordinances in the Borough of High Bridge or the State of New Jersey. An additional fee of $50 will be charged for a CCO issued under § 149-4D(1).
F.
Any inspections done pursuant to this chapter are for the purpose
of enforcing ordinances, laws and codes of the Borough of High Bridge
and the State of Jersey. Said inspections and subsequent issuance
of a CCO are not for the benefit of private persons and shall not
constitute a representation by the Borough to any prospective owner,
occupant or tenant as to conditions of any building or structure in
the Borough.
The CCO Officer shall be responsible for enforcing the provisions
of this chapter and, in the event that a property owner fails to comply,
shall cause a summons to be issued in the North Hunterdon Municipal
Court.
[Amended 6-13-2013 by Ord. No. 2013-13]
