[HISTORY: Adopted by the Mayor and Council of the Borough
of Palmyra 7-6-2015 by Ord. No.
2015-10[1]. Amendments noted where applicable.]
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have meanings
indicated:
The individual(s) designated by the owner as the person(s)
authorized to perform any duty imposed upon the owner by this chapter.
The term does not necessarily mean a "licensed real estate broker"
or "salesperson" of the State of New Jersey as those terms are defined
by N.J.S.A. 45:15-3; however; such term may include a licensed real
estate broker or salesperson of the State of New Jersey if such person
is designated by the owner as his or her agent.
The Borough of Palmyra. The Borough may act through its Housing
Department or other agency.
The document issued by the Borough certifying that a residence
to be sold has been inspected and has been found suitable for occupancy.
The effective date of this chapter shall be July 30, 2015.
The examination of a residence by a qualified inspector designated
by the Borough in order to assure compliance with the inspection criteria.
The Borough of Palmyra Land Use/Zoning Regulations;[1] the New Jersey State Housing Code (P.L. 1980 Revision); Palmyra Housing Standards listed in Chapter 142 of the Borough Code ("Code"); BOCA Property Maintenance Code listed in Chapter 203 of the Code; the Uniform Construction Code of the State of New Jersey (N.J.A.C. 5:23-1.1 et seq.), Palmyra Construction Codes, Chapter 95 of the Code, or such codes and regulations in effect at the time of the inspection.
To live in a residence and use it for sleeping or dwelling
purposes.
Any individual, corporation, limited liability company, partnership,
association, trust, or other legal entity, or any combination of the
above that owns or exercises control over any residence.
Any individual, partnership, limited liability company or
partnership, corporation association, trust or any other legal entity
or combination thereof.
The owner's child, step-child, child-in-law or the child
of a child, sibling, step-sibling or half-sibling, parent, step-parent,
parent-in-law or a parent of a parent; or a domestic partner or civil
union partner.
Any building or part thereof which is occupied, or intended,
arranged or designed to be occupied for sleeping or dwelling purposes.
This includes any "hotel" or "multiple dwelling" as defined in N.J.S.A.
55:13A-3(j) and (k).
The transfer of ownership of a residence from one person
to another for consideration as evidenced by a deed signed by the
owner conveying the residence to a new owner.
The document issued by the Borough certifying that a residence
to be sold is suitable for occupancy for a temporary period.
A.
All of the provisions above in the Legislative History/Preamble[1] are incorporated herein.
[1]
Editor's Note: This reference is to the Legislative History/Preamble
of Ord. No. 2015-10 which set forth the histories of the ordinances
regarding certificates of occupancy; complete copies of the ordinances
are on file in the Borough offices.
B.
The provisions of Ordinance No. 2013-17 and Ordinance No. 2013-25
shall continue to apply to residences sold during the period from
September 30, 2013, through the effective date of this chapter.
C.
This Ordinance No. 2015-10 shall apply to the sale of residences
from the effective date proceeding into the future.
D.
Except as set forth below, upon the sale of a residence, no person
shall occupy the residence until the Borough issues a Sales C.O. for
the residence. The exceptions are as follows:
(1)
If one or more of the sellers of the residence is 65 years of age
or older on the date of sale; or
(2)
If one or more of the sellers is totally disabled on the date of
the sale as certified by a licensed physician; or
(3)
If one or more of the sellers is confined to an assisted-care facility,
nursing home or similar facility for at least 30 days prior to the
sale; or
(4)
If the residence is sold as part of an estate; or
(5)
If the residence is sold to a relative (the "exceptions").
E.
If one of the exceptions applies, then the residence may be occupied
for up to 180 days after the sale without first obtaining the Sales
C.O., provided that all applicable New Jersey law or administrative
regulation(s) requiring any inspections or permits upon the sale of
a residence are satisfied prior to occupancy. Upon the expiration
of the one-hundred-eighty-day period specified above, no person shall
be permitted to occupy the residence without the owner having received
a Sales C.O. from the Borough.
F.
The above exceptions are intended to encourage the sale of older
homes, which may be in need of significant repair, by older or disabled
residents, while allowing new families and investors to build "sweat
equity" in their new home.
G.
Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, no residence
shall be sold unless it has been inspected and approved pursuant to
N.J.A.C. 5:70-2.3 (smoke detectors and carbon monoxide alarms).
A.
Written application for a Sales C.O. shall be filed with the Borough
and shall be completed by the owner or his or her agent. A sample
of the application is available on the Borough's website and
from the Borough Clerk. The application is subject to change.
B.
The Borough shall be governed by the New Jersey Open Public Records
Act (N.J.S.A. 47:1A-1 et seq.) and the common law as to the release
of any information set forth on the forms.
The applicant shall pay a fee to the Borough at the time that
the application is filed in an amount not to exceed $125. For an expedited
inspection there is an additional fee of $50 if seeking an inspection
within five business days, or $100 if seeking an inspection within
three business days. The required fee shall cover an initial inspection
in the event of a failure of the first inspection. Any additional
inspection shall cost $25.
A.
All residences for which a Sales C.O. is required shall be inspected
by the Borough to determine compliance with the inspection criteria.
Inspections shall address only health and safety and shall not encompass
the occupants' personal property or housekeeping practices.
B.
The Borough may create an inspection checklist (the "checklist")
as a nonexhaustive guide for the inspectors and the owners. A copy
of the current checklist is on the Borough's website and is available
from the Borough Clerk.
C.
Any inspector's report shall be in writing and shall be in sufficient
detail so that the repair or remediation necessary to correct any
violation can be objectively ascertained.
D.
Scheduling of inspections.
(1)
Upon the receipt of a completed application and the payment of the
fee, the Borough shall schedule an inspection of the residence, no
later than seven business days from the submission of the required
form and fees. The Borough shall accommodate written requests for
expedited inspections. Shorter response times will incur additional
fees.
(2)
In the event that the time limits herein cannot be met by the Borough,
a Temporary Sales C.O. shall issue until the inspection can occur.
E.
Failure to pass inspection.
(1)
In the event that a residence fails inspection, then a Temporary
Sales C.O. may be issued by the Borough that permits occupancy for
no more than 60 days from the date of issuance provided that the violations
do not jeopardize the health or safety of the occupants. The Temporary
Sales C.O. may be extended for up to an additional 30 days by the
Borough for good cause shown and provided that the violations do not
jeopardize the health or safety of the occupants.
(2)
In the event that a residence fails inspection and a subsequent reinspection
is required, only the failed items will be reinspected unless newly
observed violations jeopardize the health or safety of the occupants.
(3)
In the event that a residence fails inspection, such residence shall
not thereafter be occupied unless a Temporary Sales C.O. is issued
or the residence has been repaired or corrected and a Sales C.O. has
been issued.
Any person violating any of the provisions of this Ordinance
No. 2015-10 shall upon conviction be subject to one or more of the
following: a fine not to exceed $1,250 or imprisonment in the county
jail for a term not exceeding 90 days or a period of community service
not to exceed 90 days, all within the discretion of the Municipal
Court Judge.
A.
The effective date of this Ordinance No. 2015-10 is set forth above.
B.
Nothing in this Ordinance No. 2015-10 shall supersede any applicable
New Jersey law(s) or administrative regulations, including but not
limited to any required fire inspections and permits. For example,
any sale of a residence requires compliance with N.J.A.C. 5:70-2.3
(smoke detectors and carbon monoxide alarms) and no residence sold
can be occupied by any person until there is compliance with this
requirement.
