[HISTORY: Adopted by the Township Committee of the Township of Riverside 12-15-2008 by Ord. No. 2008-15; amended in its entirety 12-19-2011 by Ord. No. 2011-15. Subsequent amendments noted where applicable.]
A. 
Residential-single family/multifamily.
(1) 
Prior to any change in ownership of any house, dwelling, apartment unit, boardinghouse unit, rooming house unit or any other type of premises, whether by transfer of title, change of renting or leasing tenants or otherwise, which is used, partially used or intended to be used for human occupancy, a Certificate of Occupancy shall first have been obtained from the Resale Officer or his/her designee stating that the building, or the specified portion thereof, or premises complies with the requirements of the International Property Maintenance Code, the Uniform Construction Code and all other codes and ordinances of the Township of Riverside regulating and governing matters of health, sanitation, maintenance and use of any structure for human occupancy. This section shall include premises used for home occupations or for an office.
B. 
Commercial; industrial units.
(1) 
Prior to any change in ownership of any commercial or industrial establishment, building, retail shop, store, unit, facilities or any other type of commercial premises or premises used as a commercial premises, which is used, partially used or intended to be used for any commercial use, a Certificate of Occupancy shall first have been obtained from the Resale Inspector or his/her designee stating that the building, or the specified portion thereof, complies with the requirements of the International Property Maintenance Code, the Uniform Construction Code[1] and all other codes and ordinances of the Township of Riverside regulating and governing matters of health, sanitation, maintenance and use of any structure for occupancy.
[1]
Editor's Note: See Ch. 174, Construction Codes, Uniform.
(2) 
Owners of properties which are rented, leased or used for business purposes shall obtain a Certificate of Continued Occupancy prior to tenant occupancy in accordance with the regulations set forth in the Uniform Construction Code.
A. 
Residential; rental units.
(1) 
Prior to any change in occupancy of any house, dwelling, apartment unit, boardinghouse unit, rooming house unit or any other type of premises, whether by transfer of title, change of renting or leasing tenants or otherwise, which is used, partially used or intended to be used for human occupancy, a Certificate of Habitability shall first have been obtained from the Code Enforcement Officer or his/her designee stating that the building, or the specified portion thereof, or particular unit therein or premises complies with the requirements of the International Property Maintenance Code, the Uniform Construction Code and all other codes and ordinances of the Township of Riverside regulating and governing matters of health, sanitation, maintenance and use of any structure for human occupancy. This section shall include premises used for home occupations or for an office.
(2) 
A Certificate of Habitability shall be obtained as required in Subsection A(1) above or every two years, whichever occurs sooner.
Upon completion of any work, which required a permit in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Uniform Construction Code and did not require the removal of the residents or tenants from the premises to complete said work, the owner of said premises or the contractor completing the work may request a Certificate of Approval from the Secretary of the Construction Office upon successful completion of all necessary inspections.
A Certificate of Occupancy or Certificate of Habitability shall be requested, processed and issued in the following manner:
A. 
Application shall be made in writing by the owner or owner's agent or representative on the prescribed forms to the Township prior to a change in ownership or occupancy, requesting an inspection by the Resale Inspector, Code Enforcement Officer, Construction Officials or designated representative or agency, specifying the premises to be inspected, the location thereof, the name of the present owner(s) and tenant(s) and lessee(s) and the number of people who shall occupy the same.
B. 
Fees. Refer to Chapter 202, Fees.
C. 
The requested inspection shall be made within 10 business days of receipt of a complete application, and an inspection report containing all existing violations relating to matters of health, sanitation, maintenance and use of any structure for human occupancy shall be set forth as separate items by the inspecting official in a written report which shall be submitted to the person applying for the inspection.
D. 
All violations shall be corrected prior to any change of ownership or occupancy and before a Certificate of Occupancy, Certificate of Continued Occupancy, Certificate of Habitability or Certificate of Approval can be issued. A Certificate of Occupancy or a Certificate of Habitability may, however, be issued when responsibility is assumed through notarized affidavit by the prospective purchaser on the condition that such violations be corrected within a sixty-day period granted by the Resale Inspector, Code Enforcement Officer or his/her representative, except that no extension in excess of 30 days shall be granted, and except further that the violations involving life, health, safety, and welfare must be corrected prior to a change in ownership or occupancy.
E. 
All violations which in the judgment of the Resale Inspector, Code Enforcement Officer, Construction Officials or his/her representative pose a positive, clear and serious present or potential threat to the health, safety or welfare of any present or potential occupant shall be so designated upon the inspection report, and such violations must be corrected prior to any change in ownership or occupancy.
F. 
Reinspections by the Resale Inspector and Code Enforcement Officer or his/her designee may be requested by the person making the original application within 30 days of the date of the inspection report, and a reinspection shall be made within 30 days of the date of the inspection report, or as soon thereafter as the Resale Officer, Code Enforcement Officer or his/her designee can schedule such reinspection in instances where the prospective purchaser has assumed responsibility for correction of violations. Fees for reinspections shall be charged as set forth in Chapter 202.
G. 
Upon an inspection being rendered without any violation being disclosed, or upon any disclosed violation being remedied and corrected prior to reinspection, the Resale Inspector shall issue to the applicant a Certificate of Occupancy, the Code Enforcement Officer shall issue to the applicant a Certificate of Habitability, and the Construction Official shall issue a Continued Certificate of Occupancy, as appropriate for the subject premises so qualifying, which shall be valid until the next occurring change in ownership or occupancy or any subsequent inspection by the Resale Inspector, Code Enforcement Officer, Construction Officials or his/her representative shall disclose ordinance violations, whichever occurs first.
H. 
A Certificate of Approval shall be requested, processed and issued in the following manner: Application shall be made in writing by the owner or owner's agent or representative to the Secretary of the Construction Officer following the successful completion of any and all inspections by the appropriate Officials/Officers. There shall be no fee for said Certificate.
Any person affected by a decision rendered by the Resale Inspector or the Code Enforcement Officer or his/her representative in connection with the enforcement of this chapter of the Code shall have the right to a hearing on the same before the Township Committee, provided that such person shall file a written petition of appeal with the Township Clerk requesting such a hearing and containing a statement of the grounds therefor within 10 days of the date of the Code Enforcement Officer's determination.
A. 
In order to hear any appeals which applicants for a Certificate of Occupancy or Certificate of Habitability may desire to take with regard to the decision of the Resale Inspector or Code Enforcement Officer, the Township Committee is hereby authorized to act as an Appeals Board to handle such matters. Any appeals which applicants for a Certificate of Continued Occupancy or Certificate of Approval may desire to take with regard to the decision of the Construction Officials, the Construction Board of Appeals is authorized to act as an Appeals Board to handle such matters in accordance with the Uniform Construction Code.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: See Ch. 174, Construction Codes, Uniform.
B. 
The Township Committee shall hear all appeals and render a decision thereon within 30 days after receipt of an appeal application. A majority of the membership shall constitute a quorum of the Committee for taking of action on an appeal. The Committee may affirm or reverse the decision appealed from in whole or in part or may modify the decision and shall make such order or determination as in the opinion of the Committee should be made. Written notice of the Committee decision shall be given to the appellant and the Code Enforcement Officer by the Township Clerk.
The Township shall not, by the performance of inspections and reinspections required hereby, become or be considered to be a guarantor to any owner, purchaser, tenant or other person as to the condition of any building, unit or premises inspected or a participant in any contractual relationship between any persons or parties as to same.
It shall be the duty and responsibility of the Resale Inspector and the Code Enforcement Officer or their designees to enforce the provisions of this chapter.