[Adopted 12-20-2016 by Ord. No. 2016-12]
[1]
Editor’s Note: This ordinance also superseded former Article III, Abandoned Properties, adopted 11-17-2014 by Ord. No. 2014-14.
OWNER
Includes the title holder, any agent of the title holder having authority to act with respect to a vacant property, any foreclosing entity subject to the provisions of C.46:10B-51 (P.L. 2008, c. 127, Sec. 17 as amended by P.L. 2009, c. 296), or any other entity determined by the Borough of Clementon to have authority to act with respect to the property.
VACANT PROPERTY
Any building used or to be used as a residence which is not legally occupied or at which substantially all lawful construction operations or residential occupancy has ceased, and which is in such condition that it cannot legally be reoccupied without repair or rehabilitation, including, but not limited to, any property meeting the definition of abandoned property as that term is defined in the Abandoned Properties Rehabilitation Act, in N.J.S.A. 55:19-78, et seq.; provided, however, that any property where all building systems are in working order, where the building and grounds are maintained in good order, or where the building is in habitable condition, and where the building is being actively marketed by its owner for sale or rental, shall not be deemed a vacant property for purposes of this ordinance. Effective October 1, 2013, the owner of any vacant property as defined herein shall, within 30 calendar days after the building becomes vacant or within 30 calendar days after assuming ownership of the vacant property, whichever is later; or within 10 calendar days of receipt of notice by the municipality, file a registration statement for such vacant property with the Property Maintenance Inspector on forms provided by the Borough of Clementon for such purposes. Failure to receive notice by the municipality shall not constitute grounds for failing to register the property.
A. 
Each property having a separate block and lot number as designated in official records of the municipality shall be registered separately.
B. 
The registration statement shall include the name, street address, telephone number, and email address (if applicable) of a person 21 years or older, designated by the owner or owners as the authorized agent for receiving notices of code violations and for receiving process in any court proceeding or administrative enforcement proceeding on behalf of such owner or owners in connection with the enforcement of any applicable code; and the name, street address, telephone number, and email address (if applicable) of the firm and the actual names(s) of the firm's individual principal(s) responsible for maintaining the property. The individual or representative of the firm responsible for maintaining the property shall be available by telephone or in person on a twenty-four- hour per day, seven-day week basis. The two entities may be the same or different persons. Both entities shown on the statement must maintain offices in the state of New Jersey or reside within the state of New Jersey.
C. 
The registration shall remain valid for one year from the date of registration except for the initial registration time which shall be pro-rated through December 31. The owner shall be required to renew the registration annually as long as the building remains a vacant property and shall pay a registration or renewal fee in the amount prescribed in § 246-22 of this article, for each vacant property registered.
D. 
The annual renewal shall be completed by January 1 each year. The initial registration fee shall be pro-rated for registration statements received less than 10 months prior to that date.
E. 
The owner shall notify the Clerk within 30 calendar days of any change in the registration information by filing an amended registration statement on a form provided by the Clerk for such purpose.
F. 
The registration statement shall be deemed prima facie proof of the statements therein contained in any administrative enforcement proceeding or court proceeding instituted by the Borough of Clementon against the owner or owners of the building.
The owner of any vacant property registered under this article shall provide access to the Borough of Clementon to conduct exterior and interior inspections of the building to determine compliance with municipal codes, upon reasonable notice to the property owner or the designated agent. Such inspections shall be carried out on weekdays during the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., or such other time as may be mutually agreed upon between the owner and the Borough of Clementon.
A. 
An owner who meets the requirements of this article with respect to the location of his or her residence or workplace in the state of New Jersey may designate himself or herself as agent or as the individual responsible for maintaining the property.
B. 
By designating an authorized agent under the provisions of this section, the owner consents to receive any and all notices of code violations concerning the registered vacant property and all process in any court proceeding or administrative enforcement proceeding brought to enforce code provisions concerning the registered building by service of the notice or process on the authorized agent. Any owner who has designated an authorized agent under the provisions of this section shall be deemed to consent to the continuation of the agent's designation for the purposes of this section until the owner notifies the Borough of Clementon in writing of a change of authorized agent or until the owner files a new annual registration statement.
C. 
Any owner who fails to register vacant property under the provisions of this Article shall further be deemed to consent to receive, by posting on the building, in plain view, and by service of notice at the last known address of the owner of the property on record within the Borough of Clementon by regular and certified mail, any and all notices of code violations and all process in an administrative proceeding brought to enforce code provisions concerning the building.
D. 
The Borough of Clementon is authorized to engage asset management companies and lienholders to access an abandoned property to perform the necessary work required to secure an adequate standard of habitability subsequent to submission of an abandoned property certification executed by a Borough official.
[Added 9-7-2021 by Ord. No. 2021-11]
The registration fee schedule is as follows:
Vacant Property Registration Fee Schedule
Registration Type
Fee
Initial registration
$500
First renewal
$1,500
Second renewal
$3,000
Subsequent renewals
$5,000
Any funds collected as vacant property registration fees in excess of the funds necessary to operate and enforce the provisions of this chapter shall be set aside in a dedicated fund for the purpose of property rehabilitation within the Borough of Clementon at the discretion of the Governing Body.
The owner of any building that has become vacant property, and any person maintaining or operating or collecting rent for any such building that has become vacant shall, within 30 days thereof:
A. 
Enclose and secure the building against unauthorized entry as provided in the applicable provisions of the Borough of Clementon Code, or as set forth in the rules and regulations supplementing those codes;
B. 
Post a sign affixed to the building indicating the name, address and telephone number of the owner, the owner's authorized agent for the purpose of service of process and the person responsible for the day-to-day supervision and management of the building, if such person is different from the owner holding title or authorized agent. The sign shall be of a size and placed in such a location so as to be legible from the nearest public street or sidewalk, whichever is nearer, but shall be no smaller than eight inches by 10 inches;
C. 
Secure the building from unauthorized entry by posting the property with "No Trespassing" signs sufficient to give notice to any person entering upon the property that it is against the law to enter the property without permission of the owner, and maintain the sign until the building is again legally occupied or demolished or until repair or rehabilitation of the building is complete;
D. 
Ensure that the exterior grounds of the structure, including yards, fences, sidewalks, walkways, rights-of-way, alleys, retaining walls, attached or unattached accessory structures and driveways, are well-maintained and free from trash, debris, loose litter, and grass and weed growth; grass must be mowed at least once every 14 days;
E. 
In the event the property owner or the owner's authorized agent fails to have the grass cut at least once every 14 days, the grass will be cut by Borough employees and a lien will be placed on the property for the cost of labor and materials; and
F. 
Continue to maintain the structure in a secure and closed condition, keep the grounds in a clean and well-maintained condition, and ensure that the sign is visible and intact until the building is again occupied, demolished, or until repair and/or rehabilitation of the building is complete.
A. 
Any person who violates any provision of this article or of the rules and regulations issued hereunder shall be fined not less than $100 and not more than $1,000 for each offense. Every day that a violation continues shall constitute a separate and distinct offense. Fines assessed under this chapter shall be recoverable from the owner and shall be a lien on the property.
B. 
For purposes of this section, failure to file a registration statement within 30 calendar days after a building becomes vacant property or within 30 calendar days after assuming ownership of a vacant property, whichever is later, or within 10 calendar days of receipt of notice by the municipality, and failure to provide correct information on the registration statement, or failure to comply with the provisions of such provisions contained herein shall be deemed to be violations of this article.