[HISTORY: Adopted by the Borough Council
of the Borough of Paramus 11-12-1985 by Ord. No. 85-26. Amendments noted where
applicable.]
Pursuant to Section 11 of the Uniform Fire Safety
Act (P.L. 1983, c. 383),[1] the New Jersey Uniform Fire Code shall be locally enforced
in the Municipality of Paramus.
[1]
Editor's Note: See N.J.S.A. 52:27D-202.
The local enforcing agency shall be the Bureau
of Fire Prevention in the Borough of Paramus.
The local enforcement agency shall enforce the
Uniform Fire Safety Act[1] and the codes and regulations adopted under it in all
buildings, structures and premises within the established boundaries
of Paramus, 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.
[1]
Editor's Note: See N.J.S.A. 52:27D-192 et
seq.
The local enforcing agency established by § 241-2 of this chapter shall carry out the periodic inspections of life-hazard uses required by the Uniform Fire Code on behalf of the Commissioner of Community Affairs.
A.
The local enforcing agency established by § 241-2 of this chapter shall be under the direct supervision and control of the Fire Commissioner.
B.
A report of the Fire Prevention Bureau shall be made
annually and transmitted to the Mayor by the Chief of the Volunteer
Fire Department. The report shall contain all proceedings under the
Fire Prevention Code of the Borough with such statistics as said Chief
may wish to include therein.
A.
The local enforcing agency shall be under the supervision
of a Fire Official who shall be appointed by the Mayor and Council.
In making this appointment, the appointing authority shall make the
appointment from among a list of three recommendations provided by
the Board of Fire Officers.
B.
The Fire Official shall serve for a term of four years.
Any vacancy shall be filled for the unexpired term.
A.
Such inspectors and other employees as may be necessary
in the local enforcing agency shall be appointed by the Mayor and
Council upon the recommendation of the Fire Official.
B.
Inspectors and other employees of the enforcing agency
shall be subject to removal by the Mayor and Council 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.
[Amended 6-21-2011 by Ord. No. 11-19]
Pursuant to Sections 15 and 17 of the Uniform
Fire Safety Act,[1] any person aggrieved by any order of the local enforcement
agency shall have the right to appeal to the Construction Board of
Appeals for the County of Bergen.
[1]
Editor's Note: See N.J.S.A. 52:27D-206 and
52:27D-208.
[Amended 6-21-2011 by Ord. No. 11-19]
A.
The owner of all businesses, occupancies, buildings, structures or
premises required to be inspected under the requirements of the Uniform
Fire Code shall register annually with the Fire Prevention Bureau
upon forms provided by the Fire Official. It shall be a violation
of this chapter for an owner to fail to return such forms to the Fire
Prevention Bureau within 30 days of receipt. If ownership is transferred,
whether by sale, assignment, gift, interstate succession, device,
reorganization, receivership, foreclosure, execution process or any
other method, the new owner shall register, pursuant to this subsection,
after notification by the Fire Official.
B.
All registered users shall pay an annual fee in accordance with the
following schedule which is based upon the gross floor area of the
building, structure or business occupancy.
|
Floor Area
(square feet)
|
Fee
|
|---|---|
|
500 or less
|
$100
|
|
501 to 1,000
|
$150
|
|
1,001 to 3,000
|
$225
|
|
3,001 to 6,000
|
$300
|
|
6,001 to 9,000
|
$375
|
|
9,001 to 12,000
|
$450
|
|
12,001 to 24,000
|
$525
|
|
24,001 to 48,000
|
$600
|
|
48,000 and over
|
$675
|
(1)
One- and two-level parking garages will be charged a flat fee of
$150. Three- or more-multi-level parking garages will be charged a
flat fee of $250.
(2)
In multiple-tenant or multiple-occupancy buildings containing common
areas including hallways, stairs, basements, storage and mechanical
areas, a flat fee for the common area will be charged to the building
owner based on the following schedule:
C.
Inspections: All registered buildings and businesses will be inspected
periodically, but not less than once per year.
D.
Special events: Whenever a property owner shall propose to hold a
special event on his or her property, which shall include a carnival,
fair, show, auction, etc., the property owner shall notify the Fire
Prevention Bureau. If the Fire Official determines that it is necessary,
for the purpose of public safety, to have a Fire Inspector present
during such special events, the property owner, operator, organizer,
sponsor or organization responsible for the event shall pay the cost
of the Fire Inspector for attendance at the event. The applicable
rate shall be the Fire Inspector's overtime rate multiplied by 20%
with a minimum charge for three hours.
E.
Exemption from fee: The following businesses and uses shall be exempt
from the registration fees; however, they shall still be required
to file a registration form and comply with all other code requirements.
(1)
Life-hazard uses identified in § 241-4 which are required to register with the New Jersey Division of Fire Safety, Department of Community Affairs. However, if only a portion of a building or a process within a building is classified as a life-hazard use, then only the square footage of the classified life-hazard use will be exempt from the fee.
(2)
All Borough of Paramus and Board of Education owned property.
(3)
Municipal libraries.
(4)
Paramus Volunteer Fire Department and Ambulance Corps buildings.
F.
Violations.
(1)
The penalty for failure to register annually with the Fire Prevention
Bureau, within 30 calendar days after having been ordered to do so,
shall result in a penalty amount equal to double the applicable registration
fee.
(2)
The penalty for failure to pay the registration fee, within 30 calendar
days after having been ordered to do so, shall be an amount equal
to double the unpaid fee.
The permit fees shall be as established by the
Uniform Fire Code.
[Added 10-7-2020 by Ord.
No. 20-27]
If the development of a property requires an additional public
fire hydrant(s) as determined by the Fire Prevention Bureau, the developer
of the property shall pay a one-time fee for the fire hydrant and
waterline maintenance to the Borough in the amount of $13,560 for
each public fire hydrant to be installed, calculated at a projected
fee based upon the current agreement between the Borough of Paramus
and Suez Water New Jersey.
[Amended 10-7-2020 by Ord. No. 20-27]
Penalties shall be as set forth in the New Jersey Administrative
Code 5:70-2.
The Borough of Paramus hereby adopts the National
Fire Codes.
A.
Wherever the National Fire Codes are inconsistent
with the New Jersey Uniform Construction Code, the New Jersey Uniform
Construction Code will be controlling.
B.
Whenever the National Fire Codes are more restrictive
than the New Jersey Uniform Fire Code, the National Fire Codes shall
control.
C.
"Authority having jurisdiction" shall mean and refer
to the Fire Official of the Borough, his agents or other employees
of the Borough Fire Prevention Bureau.
