[HISTORY: Adopted by the Mayor and Council of the Borough of Glassboro 10-28-2008 by Ord. No. 08-67. Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Development regulations and zoning — See Ch. 107.
Unfit buildings and structures — See Ch. 178.
Commercial building standards — See Ch. 200.
Housing standards — See Ch. 285.
This chapter shall be known as the "Chapter Establishing Residential Building Standards Upon Change of Ownership."
[Amended 5-22-2012 by Ord. No. 12-33; 7-24-2018 by Ord. No. 18-32]
A. 
No person shall convey title to any residential property (i.e., any residential property previously issued a certificate of occupancy pursuant to the Uniform Construction Code) in the Borough of Glassboro without first obtaining a certificate of continued occupancy.
B. 
No owner, agent, broker or person shall purchase, sell, rent, lease or use in such a manner as to result, permit or allow any person(s) to occupy, or to live in, as an owner, occupant, tenant or otherwise, any dwelling unit or apartment or structure unless a certificate of occupancy certifying that the structure or apartment or dwelling unit is fit for human habitation and that the structure or apartment or dwelling unit is in compliance with this chapter and all applicable laws, ordinances, codes, regulations and standards shall first have been obtained from the Housing Officer or his or her representative.
C. 
Issuance of certificates.
(1) 
Prior to conveying title to any premises described in the preceding subsections, an owner shall apply to the Housing Officer for such certificate of continued occupancy. The Housing Officer or his representative shall inspect the premises within 10 days of said application. Upon determining that this chapter and all applicable laws, ordinances, codes, regulations and standards which the Borough is empowered to enforce have been complied with, the Housing Officer shall issue a certificate of continued occupancy permitting occupancy of said premises. Such certificate of continued occupancy shall indicate that compliance has been met.
(2) 
If, upon inspection, the residential unit is found to be not in compliance, the Housing Officer or his representative shall notify the owner, in writing, of such noncompliance, specifically setting out those violations requiring correction. Upon correction of the violation(s), the owner shall notify the Housing Officer, who shall, within five days, reinspect the required correction(s). This procedure shall be followed until all violations have been corrected, at which time a certificate of continued occupancy shall issue as above provided.
(3) 
Such certificate of continued occupancy shall be valid for a period of 90 days from the date of its issuance, after which ninety-day period it shall expire. Such expiration date shall be stated on the certificate.
(4) 
Notwithstanding the provisions of Subsection C(1) of this section, an owner conveying title to any residential premises to a contract purchaser who intends to and does utilize the premises for a residential use may make application for a certificate known as a "certificate of transfer of title" in which substantial renovations to the residential premises are to be made upon conveyance of the premises. The application shall be signed by both the owner and the contract purchaser, as the case may be, and shall have a copy of the contract for sale attached thereto. The application for the issuance of a certificate of transfer of title shall be made not later than 20 days prior to the intended settlement date as set forth in the contract of sale. The Housing Officer or his representative shall inspect the premises with the owner and contract purchaser within 10 days of said application and, upon determining that substantial renovations to the premises are intended to be made by the contract purchaser, shall issue a certificate of transfer of title to the new owner of the premises. Such certificate of transfer of title shall be valid for a period of 90 days from the date of settlement. The purchaser of the premises may apply to extend the ninety-day period to complete the renovations, but said application shall be filed prior to the expiration of the initial ninety-day period. The Housing Officer may grant the extension, at his sole discretion, for a period up to, but not greater than, 90 days. Upon notification of the Housing Officer by the purchaser that the renovations have been completed, the Housing Officer or representative shall inspect the premises within 10 days. The Housing Officer shall then take appropriate action for the issuance of a certificate of continued occupancy in accordance with Subsection C(1) of this section.
(5) 
Housing rentals. The provisions of this chapter shall not be applicable to any housing rental units of six or more units per lot.
[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I)]
D. 
Fees.
(1) 
The owner/buyer making application for a certificate of continued occupancy under § 381-2C(1) shall be charged a fee of $100 for the initial inspection and for two reinspections.
(2) 
The owner/buyer making application for a certification of transfer of title under § 381-2C(4) shall be charged a fee of $125 for the initial inspection and for two reinspections.
[Added 7-24-2018 by Ord. No. 18-32; at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I)]
Any person, firm or corporation who shall violate any of the provisions of this chapter shall, upon conviction, be punished by a fine not to exceed $2,000, community service for not more than 90 days, or by imprisonment in the county jail for a period not to exceed 90 days, or by any combination of such fine, community service and imprisonment as the court may impose. Each violation of any of the provisions of this chapter and each day the same is violated shall be deemed and taken to be a separate and distinct offense.