[HISTORY: Adopted by the Township Council of the Township
of Logan 12-2-2014 by Ord. No. 10-2014. Amendments noted where applicable.]
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated:
Pursuant to N.J.S.A. 55:19-81, an abandoned property is defined
as follows. Any property that has not been legally occupied for a
period of six months and which meets any one of the following additional
criteria may be deemed to be abandoned property upon a determination
by the Enforcement Officer that:
The property is in need of rehabilitation in the reasonable
judgment of the Enforcement Officer, and no rehabilitation has taken
place during that six-month period;
Construction was initiated on the property and was discontinued
prior to completion, leaving the building unsuitable for occupancy,
and no construction has taken place for at least six months as of
the date of a determination by the Enforcement Officer pursuant to
this section;
At least one installment of property tax remains unpaid and delinquent on that property in accordance with Chapter 4 of Title 54 of the Revised Statutes of the date of the determination by the Enforcement Officer pursuant to this section;
Any building or structure which is not legally occupied or at which all lawful business or construction operations or renovation work or residential occupancy has substantially ceased, and which is in such condition that it cannot legally be reoccupied without repair or rehabilitation, and/or the property has been determined to be a nuisance by the Enforcement Officer in accordance with N.J.S.A. 55:19-82. A property which contains both residential and nonresidential space may be considered abandoned pursuant to N.J.S.A. 55:19-78 et seq. so long as two-thirds or more of the total net square footage of the building was previously legally occupied as residential or commercial space and none of the residential or commercial space has been legally occupied for at least six months at the time of the determination of abandonment by the Enforcement Officer and the property meets the criteria of either Subsection A or D of this definition.
Any creditor (including out-of-state creditors) including
but not limited to service companies, lenders in a mortgage agreement
and any agent, servant or employee of the mortgagee, or any successor
in interest and/or assignee of the mortgagee's rights, interests
or obligations under a mortgage or mortgage note.
The Township's Housing Officer.
Any of the following actions taken by a lienholder or mortgage
holder or mortgagee:
Includes the title holder, any agent of the title holder
having authority to act with respect to a vacant and/or abandoned
property, any foreclosing entity that has filed a notice with the
municipal clerk pursuant to the provisions of N.J.S.A. 46:10B-51,
or any other entity determined by the Township of Logan to have authority
to act with respect to the property.
Any building or structure which is not legally occupied or
at which all lawful business or construction operations or renovation
work or occupancy have substantially 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" in N.J.S.A. 55:19-81 or any two of the conditions
defined in N.J.S.A. 2A:50-73 exist; 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 a habitable condition, and where the building is being actively
marketed by its owner or creditor for sale or rental shall not be
deemed a vacant property for purposes of this chapter.
The owner and/or creditor of any abandoned or vacant property
as defined herein shall: 1) within 30 calendar days after the building
becomes vacant property; or 2) within 30 calendar days after assuming
ownership of the vacant property, whichever is later; or 3) within
30 calendar days of receipt of notice by the municipality; file a
registration statement for such vacant property with the Code Enforcement
Office on forms provided by the Township for such purposes in the
manner set forth below. Failure to receive notice by the municipality
shall not constitute grounds for failing to register the property.
A.Â
Each property having a separate block and lot number as designated
in official records of the municipality shall be registered separately.
B.Â
The registration statement shall include the name, street address,
telephone number and e-mail address of a person 21 years of age or
older, designated by the owner or creditor or owners or creditors
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 or creditors in connection
with the enforcement of any applicable code; and the name, street
address, telephone number and e-mail address of the firm and the actual
name(s) of the firm's individual principal(s) responsible for
maintaining the property. The individual or a 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-per-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.Â
The registration shall remain valid for one year from the date of registration, except the initial registration, for the fee prescribed in § 148-8 for each vacant property registered.
D.Â
If the registration fee is not paid within 30 days of notification, a lien will be placed on the property for the amount prescribed in § 148-8.
E.Â
The owner or creditor shall notify the Enforcement Officer within
30 calendar days of any change in the registration information by
filing an amended registration statement on a form provided by the
Township for such purpose.
F.Â
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 Township against the owner,
owners or creditor of the building.
H.Â
The registration statement may include any additional information
that the Enforcement Officer may reasonably require.
I.Â
If, after 30 calendar days, there is no progress taken to address
the code violations at the vacant property, taxes are unpaid for one
quarter and the water and sewer charges, if applicable, are also delinquent
for one quarter, the Township may commence condemnation proceedings
to either demolish the structure and/or take title to the property
to satisfy the Township's liens and expenses.
Any owner of vacant property who plans to restore the property
to productive use and occupancy during the thirty-day period following
the date of the initial registration of the property shall file a
sufficiently detailed statement of the owner's plans for restoration
of the property with the registration statement along with a timeline
schedule. Any owner who within the initial registration period completes
restoration of the property whereby the property no longer is defined
as a vacant property may request a fifty-percent refund of the vacant
property registration fee from the Code Enforcement Office upon presentation
of a certificate of occupancy who shall forward the request to the
Enforcement Officer for approval.
The owner and/or creditor of any vacant property registered
under this chapter shall provide access to the Township to conduct
exterior and interior inspections of the building to determine compliance
with municipal codes, upon reasonable notice to the property owner
or creditor 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 or creditor
and the Township.
A.Â
An owner or creditor who meets the requirements of this chapter 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.Â
By designating an authorized agent under the provisions of this section
the owner or creditor 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 or creditor
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 or creditor
notifies the Township of Logan in writing of a change of authorized
agent or until the owner or creditor files a new annual registration
statement.
C.Â
Any owner or creditor who fails to register a vacant property under the provisions of this chapter shall further be deemed to consent to receive, by posting on the building, in plain view, and by service notice at the last known address of the owner or creditor of the property on record with the Township of Logan 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 and subject to the provisions stated in § 148-2I.
The owner or creditor of any structure that has become vacant
and/or abandoned property, and any person responsible for maintaining
any such building that has become vacant and/or abandoned shall, within
30 calendar days of the structure becoming vacant and/or abandoned,
or within 30 calendar days of the owner or creditor taking title to
the property, do the following:
A.Â
Board and secure the structure and all unattached accessory structures,
garages or similar structures as provided for in the applicable codes
of the Township of Logan or as set forth in rules and regulations
promulgated by the Construction and/or Housing Code Official.
B.Â
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 overgrowth, and in compliance with Chapters 64 and 125 of the Code of the Township of Logan.
C.Â
Post a sign affixed and protected from the elements, to the structure
indicating the name, address and telephone number of the owner or
creditor and the owner's or creditor's authorized agent
for the purpose of service of process, and the name, address and telephone
number of the entity responsible for maintenance of the property,
which may be the same as the owner or creditor or authorized agent.
The sign shall include the words "no trespassing" and "to report problems
with this building, call. . .," shall be 24 inches by 24 inches in
size, and shall be placed in a location where it is clearly visible
from the nearest public street or sidewalk, whichever is nearer. The
sign shall meet the requirements of Logan Township's Unified
Development Ordinance.
D.Â
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.
E.Â
The owner or creditor of any vacant and/or abandoned property shall
acquire and otherwise maintain liability insurance, in an amount of
not less than $300,000 for buildings designed primarily for residential
use, and not less than $1,000,000 for any other building, including,
but not limited to, buildings designed for manufacturing, industrial,
storage or commercial uses, covering any damage to any person or any
property caused by any physical condition of or in the building or
property subject to the provisions of the chapter. Said insurance
shall provide a rider for payment of all demolition costs should the
vacant building become abandoned and require the Township of Logan
to demolish the building. Any insurance policy acquired or renewed
after the building has become vacant shall provide for written notice
to the Township of Logan Enforcement Officer within 30 calendar days
of any lapse, cancellation or change in coverage. The owner or creditor
shall attach evidence of the insurance to the owner's or creditor's
registration statement. Any registration statement submitted that
does not include such evidence shall be deemed to be an invalid registration.
Insurance must name Township of Logan as party or payee for demolition
costs should the Township deem demolition is required.
F.Â
Correct any violation of this chapter, including but not limited
to the provision of care, maintenance, security and upkeep of the
exterior of the property, within 30 days of receipt of the violation
notice from the enforcement officer; or within 10 days of receipt
of the violation notice if the violation presents an eminent threat
to public health and safety. The issuance of a notice pursuant to
this chapter shall constitute proof that a property is "vacant and
abandoned" for the purposes of N.J.S.A. 2A:50-73.
The Enforcement Officer may issue rules and regulations for
the administration of the provisions of this chapter. Such administratively
promulgated rules and regulations shall be in writing and shall be
provided to the owners or creditor of properties registered under
this chapter or their designated agents within 30 calendar days of
their effective date.
A.Â
Any owner or in-state creditor who violates any provision of this
chapter or of the rules and regulations issued hereunder shall be
subject to a fine of $1,500 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 or
creditor and shall be a lien on the property as described in N.J.S.A.
55:19-100.
B.Â
Any out-of-state creditor who violates any provision of this chapter
or of the rules and regulations issued hereunder shall be subject
to a fine of $2,500 for each day a separate violation of this chapter
exists. Fines assessed under this chapter shall be recoverable from
the owner or creditor and shall be a lien on the property as described
in N.J.S.A. 55:19-100.
