For the purposes of this article, the following definitions
shall apply:
BUILDING
Any structure, whether public or private, whether vacant
or occupied, that is adapted to or used for dwelling occupancy; for
the transaction of business; for the rendering of professional services;
amusement; the display or sale or storage of goods, wares, merchandise,
articles or equipment; for the performance of work or labor; for office
buildings, public buildings, stores, theaters, markets, restaurants,
warehouses, worships, garages or structures where domestic or other
animals or fowl are kept; for sheds, outbuildings, or other structures
or premises used as accessory to any such use.
OWNER
The actual owner of the buildings, whether an individual,
partnership or corporation, or the agent of the building or other
person having custody of the buildings or to whom the rent is paid.
RODENT/VERMIN ERADICATION
The elimination or extermination of rodents/vermin within
buildings by any or all accepted measures, such as poisoning, fumigation
or trapping, so that the buildings are completely freed of rodents
and there is no evidence of rodent infestation.
RODENT/VERMIN HARBORAGE
Any condition which provides shelter or protection for rodents/vermin,
thus favoring their multiplying and continued existence.
UNFIT BUILDING, DWELLING OR DWELLING UNIT
One which is so damaged, decayed, dilapidated, unsanitary,
unsafe, vermin-infested or so located that it creates a serious hazard
to the health or safety of the occupants and/or lacks illumination,
ventilation, is structurally unstable, constitutes a fire hazard,
lacks exit and sanitation facilities adequate to protect the health
or safety of the occupants or of the public.
VERMIN
Includes rodents and other objectionable little animals or
insects, such as, but not limited to, larvae, flies, Cimex lectularius
L., commonly known as "bed bugs," roaches, fleas, lice and mites.
No owner or lessee of any building or any part thereof shall
lease or let or hire out the same or any portion thereof to be occupied
by any person or allow the same to be occupied as a place in which
or for anyone to dwell or lodge, except when such building or such
part thereof is sufficiently lighted and ventilated and is in all
respects in that condition of cleanliness and wholesomeness required
by this code, any ordinance of the City of Union City or any law of
this state or in which they require such premises to be kept.
No person shall occupy or let to another for occupancy any basement
space within a dwelling or dwelling unit, for the purpose of living
therein, which does not comply with the following requirements:
A. The floor level of rooms used for sleeping is less than 3 1/2
feet below the average grade of ground adjacent to and within 15 feet
of the exterior walls of such rooms. The floors and walls must be
impervious to leakage of underground and surface runoff water and
insulated against dampness, and provided that the windows thereof
are at least 15 feet from the nearest building or wall.
B. The total of window area in each room is equal to at least the minimum,
not less than 8%, of the floor area.
C. Such required minimum window area is located entirely above the grade
of the ground adjoining such window area.
D. The total of openable window area in each room is equal to at least
the minimum of 4% of the floor area being ventilated, except where
there is supplied some other device affording adequate ventilation
and approved by the public officer.
E. Prior zoning approval, Uniform Construction Code approval and a certificate
of occupancy to occupy the basement area have been received.
[Added 5-21-2013]
No owner, agent, lessee or keeper of any tenement house, lodging
house or boardinghouse or dwelling shall cause so great a number of
persons to dwell, be or sleep in any such house or any portion thereof
as to provide less than the minimum standards of the Housing Code
of the City of Union City in regard to occupancy and air space.
In each dwelling, a minimum of one toilet and one sink in good
and serviceable condition or as otherwise prescribed by the Uniform
Construction Code shall be provided for each family living separately. Every
premises occupied as commercial, business or industrial shall be provided
with a minimum of one toilet and one sink in good and serviceable
condition or as otherwise prescribed by the Uniform Construction Code.
The owner, lessor or agent of any building or part thereof used
in any degree for occupation by human beings, whether for business
or dwelling purposes, shall keep the roofs, gutters and sidewalls
of such building so that same shall not leak.
No chimney, smoke pipe, smokestack, flue or any part thereof
or any connection therewith shall be or remain so defective or out
of repair as to allow any noxious fumes or odors to escape into said
building.
Any person, firm or corporation who shall violate any of the
provisions of this article shall, upon conviction, be punished by
a fine not exceeding $1,000 or imprisonment for a term not exceeding
90 days or a period of community service not exceeding 90 days, or
a combination thereof, and each violation of the provisions of this
article and each day the same is violated shall be deemed and taken
to be a separate and distinct offense.
Any person, firm or corporation who rents, leases or causes
to be rented, leased or otherwise occupied any dwelling unit in violation
of any provision of this article or any other chapters of the Code
of the City of Union City which results in the displacement of tenants,
pursuant to N.J.S.A. 20:4-4.1 et seq., shall be responsible for all
relocation costs as set forth in N.J.S.A. 20:4-4.1 et seq.