[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Supervisors of the Township
of Warwick 6-16-1997 by Ord. No. 97-5; amended in its entirety 10-17-2011 by Ord. No.
2011-9. Subsequent amendments noted where applicable.]
No structure, building, dwelling unit, nor any part thereof
shall be used or occupied, nor shall a change of ownership occur,
nor shall a change of residential or nonresidential tenant occur,
until a use and occupancy certificate has been issued by Warwick Township.
The Township shall, after application for such certificate has been
made by the owner, the agent of the owner, or the prospective tenant
of the premises to be occupied, on a form provided for such purpose
by the Township, inspect the structure, building, or dwelling unit
no later than 30 days prior to settlement or occupation of the premises,
assuming that the complete use and occupancy application was submitted
and received by the Township no later than 45 days prior to settlement
or occupation of the premises, pursuant to the following:
A.
The applicant must demonstrate compliance with all applicable section(s)
of the Township building codes, Township ordinances, rules and regulations.
B.
Prior to the issuance of a certificate of occupancy, the owner shall
apply for and secure from the Township all necessary permits for all
previous improvements or work for which a building or zoning permit
was required but not secured.
C.
No use and occupancy certificate shall be issued until all information,
as requested within the application, has been received in writing
and reviewed and approved by the Township.
E.
Address numbers must be clearly visible from the street (at least
three inches in height). All houses and buildings that are over 50
feet from the road must have their address number posted at the curb.
G.
The exterior of the structure shall have no visible openings which
would allow weather or vermin to breach the interior.
H.
Guardrails must be present at all balconies and/or decks which are
greater than 30 inches above grade or floor level.
I.
Handrails and/or guard rails must be present at all stairways where
more than two stairs are located.
J.
If present, sump pumps must discharge to the exterior of the building.
No sump pump may discharge to the surface of a property within 15
feet of a road or street without the written approval of the Township.
No sump pumps may discharge into the sanitary sewer system. No sump
pumps may discharge into the stormwater system without the written
approval of the Township.
K.
Working exhaust fans shall be present in all bathrooms and/or toilet
rooms which do not have an operable window.
L.
If present, garbage disposals shall be in working condition.
M.
All plumbing fixtures (sinks, toilets, etc.) shall be in working
condition.
N.
There shall be no unfilled openings within the electric circuit breaker
box.
O.
There shall be no exposed or uncapped electric wires or uncovered
outlet or switch boxes.
P.
All new and existing structures, buildings, or dwelling units shall
contain a properly maintained and functioning smoke detector present
on each level, in each bedroom, in the basement and in each basement
room separated by a door. A heat detector or smoke detector shall
be in the garage. The smoke-detection system shall meet the requirements
of the applicable Township building codes. When actuated, the audible
alarm of the smoke-detection system shall meet the requirements of
the applicable Township building codes referencing decibel levels
for smoke-detection systems. All detectors shall be interconnected
so that when one detector senses smoke or heat, all devices activate
simultaneously. All smoke detectors must have a battery backup feature.
Detectors in new construction must be hardwired. In existing units,
detectors may be hardwired, wireless or a combination of both types.
Q.
All systems, devices and equipment to detect fire or smoke, actuate
an alarm or suppress or control a fire shall be properly maintained.
R.
Fire-rated doors shall be present in garages where a door leads into
a conditioned space.
S.
Where present, five-eighths-inch, Type X drywall shall be installed
along the wall between the garage and the living space.
T.
Existing fire-suppression systems (sprinklers) are to be inspected
and certified by a certified sprinkler inspector.
U.
All fireplaces must have a screen, whether they are in use or not,
unless the flue has been permanently sealed.
V.
All bedroom windows must open easily and stay open without additional
support(s).
W.
All dryer exhaust ducts must be of metallic, noncombustible material,
attached with tape or compression bands (no screws). Dryer exhaust
vents must have cleanouts as required by Section 1502 of the currently
adopted edition of the International Residential Code.
X.
The front door must utilize a thumb-latch lock.
Y.
On-lot or private septic systems must be in working condition. Failing
systems shall be required to connect with the public sewer where available.
Where public sewer service is not available, the property owner shall
meet with the Township and the Warwick Township Water and Sewer Authority
to ascertain the most appropriate method of resolving the sewer issue.
The application for a use and occupancy permit shall state all
uses, principal and accessory, to which the structure, building, or
dwelling unit is devoted. No structure, building, dwelling unit, nor
any part thereof shall be used or occupied, nor shall a change of
ownership occur, nor shall a change of residential or nonresidential
tenant occur, until a use and occupancy certificate has been issued
by Warwick Township in accordance with this chapter. It shall be the
responsibility of any person or corporation who shall change the use
of, sell or otherwise transfer ownership of any structure, building,
or residential dwelling unit, or change the tenant of a residential
or nonresidential structure or building, to apply for and obtain the
use and occupancy certificate required by this chapter prior to the
transfer of ownership rights or any use or occupancy or change of
use or occupancy of such premises; provided, however, that the failure
on the part of such seller, transferor, or owner to obtain such certificate
shall not excuse the purchaser, transferee, or residential or nonresidential
tenant from the requirements of this chapter.
Any use and occupancy certificate issued hereunder may be revoked
in the event that the structure, building, or dwelling unit is determined
to be unsafe, uninhabitable, or that a condition exists that is in
violation of any ordinance of the Township, or that the actual use
is in violation of any ordinance of the Township. In the event that
the use and occupancy certificate is issued subject to conditions,
such certificate may be revoked if the conditions remain unsatisfied
within the time limit provided for at the time of issuance of the
certificate.
The applicant for a use and occupancy certificate shall pay, at the time of application, a fee to the Township in an amount
established by a fee schedule which has been adopted by resolution
by the Board of Supervisors. Such fee shall be nonrefundable in the
event that the Township shall not issue a use and occupancy certificate
after the required inspection.[1]
Any person, corporation, or association who or which shall occupy
or use any structure, building, or dwelling unit without obtaining
a use and occupancy certificate or who or which continues to occupy
or use any structure, building, or dwelling unit following revocation
of a previously issued use and occupancy certificate shall be in violation
of this chapter and shall be subject to the payment of fines and penalties
of not less than $100 and not more than $1,000, in addition to the
cost of prosecution and collection, and, in default thereof, to imprisonment
for a period not exceeding 30 days, as provided by law. Each and every
day that occupancy or use of any structure, building, or dwelling
unit shall continue without the certificate required by this chapter,
after notice to cease and desists such occupancy or use shall have
been given, shall constitute a separate offense and be punishable
as such.
