[HISTORY: Adopted by the Mayor and Council of the Borough
of Palmyra as indicated in article histories. Amendments noted where
applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Unsafe or unfit buildings — See Ch. 86.
Certificates of occupancy for property sales — See Ch. 93.
Uniform construction codes — See Ch. 95.
Fire prevention — See Ch. 121.
Housing standards — See Ch. 142.
Land development — See Ch. 158.
Property maintenance — See Ch. 203.
[Adopted 7-6-2015 by Ord.
No. 2015-9[1]]
As used in this article, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated:
The individual(s) designated by the owner as the person(s)
authorized to perform any duty imposed upon the owner by this article.
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 rental
unit is suitable for occupancy for the period of time so specified.
The happening of either of the following occurrences:
A residential unit providing complete, independent living
facilities including permanent provisions for living, sleeping, eating,
cooking and sanitation.
The effective date of this article shall be July 30, 2015.
The examination of a rental unit 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.
See definition of "agent."
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 rental unit.
Any individual, partnership, limited liability company or
partnership, 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 parent of a parent, or a domestic partner or civil
union partner.
Each dwelling unit for rent in a building containing one
or two separate housing units, including individual condominium units.
In the case of a building containing two separate dwelling units of
which one is owner-occupied, the unit that is owner- occupied shall
not be considered a rental unit. Any hotel, motel or multiple dwelling
as defined in N.J.S.A. 55:13A-3(j) and (k) shall not be considered
a rental unit.
The document issued by the Borough certifying that a rental
unit is suitable for occupancy for a period less than that specified
in a C.O.
Any individual(s) who occupy a rental unit pursuant to an
oral or written lease for consideration including but not limited
to rent.
A.Â
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. 2015-9 which set forth the histories of the ordinances
regarding inspection, registration and licensing of residential rental
properties; complete copies of the ordinances are on file in the Borough
offices.
B.Â
The provisions of Ordinance Nos. 2013-14 and 2013-23 shall continue
to apply to the rental units during the period from September 30,
2013, through the effective date of this Ordinance No. 2015-9.
C.Â
All rental units that have received certificates of occupancy as
of the effective date shall remain licensed until the effective date
set forth therein.
D.Â
All owners of rental units that have not received certificates of
occupancy as of the effective date shall remain subject to the provisions
of Ordinance Nos. 2013-14 and 2013-23 from September 30, 2013, through
the effective date but shall be subject to this Ordinance No. 2015-9
from the effective date proceeding into the future.
A.Â
As of the effective date, any certificate of occupancy issued by
the Borough for any existing rental unit shall continue in full force
and effect through the expiration date. Within 30 days of the expiration
of the current certificate of occupancy and within 30 days of the
expiration of any subsequent issued certificate of occupancy, the
owner shall reregister the rental unit with the Borough and pay the
required registration fee.
B.Â
For any rental unit in existence as of the effective date for which
a certificate of occupancy has not been issued by the Borough and
for any new rental unit created after the effective date, the owner
of the rental unit shall file a registration form with the Borough
prior to any occupancy of the rental unit and shall reregister the
rental unit within 30 days of the expiration of any subsequently issued
certificate of occupancy.
C.Â
In addition to the above, upon any change in occupancy of any rental
unit, the owner of a rental unit shall reregister the rental unit
with the Borough prior to the reoccupancy of the rental unit if more
than 180 days have elapsed from the issuance of the most recent certificate
of occupancy.
D.Â
If the change in occupancy occurs within the aforesaid one-hundred-eighty-day
period, the owner shall file a new registration within seven days
of the new tenant(s)' occupancy but need not pay any registration
fee. The existing certificate of occupancy shall thereafter remain
in effect for the balance of the term and the rental unit shall be
reregistered within 30 days of the expiration of the certificate of
occupancy and any subsequently issued certificate of occupancy.
A.Â
Criteria.
(1)Â
All rental units 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.
(2)Â
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.
(3)Â
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.
(4)Â
In instances in which rental unit(s) and nonrental units are located
in the same structure, the inspections shall be limited to the rental
unit(s) and the utilities and systems servicing the rental unit(s).
B.Â
Scheduling of inspections.
(1)Â
Upon the receipt of a complete registration and the payment of the
registration fee, the Borough shall schedule an inspection of the
rental unit, no later than seven business days from the submission
of the required forms and fees. The Borough shall accommodate written
requests for expedited inspections. Shorter response times will incur
additional fees.
(2)Â
In the event that the time limits herein cannot be met by the Borough,
a temporary certificate of occupancy shall be issued until the inspection
can occur.
C.Â
Failure to pass inspection.
(1)Â
In the event that a rental unit fails inspection, then a temporary
certificate of occupancy may be issued by the Borough that permits
occupancy for no more than 30 days from the date of issuance, provided
that the violations do not jeopardize the health or safety of the
occupants. The temporary certificate of occupancy 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)Â
In the event that a rental unit 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)Â
In the event that a rental unit fails inspection, such unit shall
not thereafter be occupied by a tenant unless a temporary certificate
of occupancy is issued or the unit has been repaired or corrected
and a new certificate of occupancy is issued.
A.Â
All rental units shall be licensed in accordance with this article. The license is a certificate of occupancy and shall be issued by the Borough upon the registration of the rental unit as set forth in § 208-3, the payment of the registration fee as set forth in § 208-7, and the satisfactory inspection as set forth in § 208-4. Upon issuance, a copy of the certificate of occupancy shall be provided to the tenant.
B.Â
Certificates of occupancy shall have a term of two years.
C.Â
Once a rental unit has been issued two consecutive certificates of
occupancy and the owner(s) of that rental unit have not been convicted
of or pled guilty to any violation of this article in the Borough's
Municipal Court, that rental unit shall thereafter be subject to registration,
inspection and licensure every five years rather than two years. This
provision shall not apply to any reregistration/inspections triggered
by a change in occupancy.
D.Â
No tenant shall hereafter occupy any rental unit nor shall the owner
permit occupancy of any rental unit by a tenant unless there is compliance
with the provisions of this article.
A.Â
Upon any change in occupancy occurring 180 days or more from the issuance of the most recent certificate of occupancy, the owner shall file an amended registration form, pay a new registration fee, have the rental unit pass inspection as set forth in § 208-4, and receive a temporary certificate of occupancy or certificate of occupancy prior to the occupancy of the rental unit. Upon compliance with the above, a new certificate of occupancy shall issue and shall have a term of two years.
B.Â
Upon any change in occupancy within 180 days from the issuance of a certificate of occupancy, then the owner shall file an amended registration form but need not pay the registration fee or have the rental unit inspected until the expiration of the existing certificate of occupancy, except as required by N.J.A.C. 5:70-2.3 (smoke detectors and carbon monoxide alarms; Chapter 121, Fire Prevention, Article II, Smoke Detectors, of the Borough Code).
A.Â
For registration of rental units.
(1)Â
Upon the filing of the initial registration form and for each subsequent
registration form, the owner of a rental unit shall pay a registration
fee to the Borough not more than $125.
(3)Â
The required fee shall cover an initial inspection as well as one
follow-up inspection in the event of a failure of the first inspection.
Any additional inspection shall cost $25.
B.Â
For registration required upon change in occupancy. If an owner of a rental unit is required to reregister upon a change in occupancy, the owner shall pay a registration fee of $60. This fee shall include the fee for the inspections required by N.J.A.C. 5:70-2.3 (smoke detectors and carbon monoxide alarms; and Chapter 121, Fire Prevention, Article II, Smoke Detectors of the Borough Code) as well as the inspection required herein, as well as one follow-up inspection in the event that the first inspection is failed. Any additional inspection shall cost $25 per inspection.
A.Â
All rental units shall be registered as provided herein.
B.Â
A sample of the Rental Unit Registration Form and the Rental Unit
Supplemental Registration Form (the "forms") are available on the
Borough's website and from the Borough Clerk. The forms are subject
to change.
C.Â
The forms shall require the applicant to submit a government-issued
photo identification indicating current address and name of the applicant.
The Borough shall accept copies of such identification with the following
personal identifiers redacted: social security numbers, date of birth,
driver license numbers, vehicle plate numbers, insurance policy numbers,
financial account numbers or credit card numbers. Examples of acceptable
identification include driver's licenses, passports, military
identification cards and birth certificates.
D.Â
The forms shall be fully completed by the owner. The forms shall
not require any personal identifiers.
E.Â
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 on the forms.
F.Â
Any person required to file the form(s) pursuant to this article
shall file an amended form(s) within 20 days after any change in the
information required to be included thereon. No fee shall be required
for the filing of an amendment if no inspection is triggered pursuant
to this article.
G.Â
Every owner shall provide each tenant with a copy of the completed
registration form.
Any person violating any of the provisions of this article 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. An
owner shall not be deemed in violation if the owner is prevented from
compliance by action or inaction of the tenant.
A tenant of a rental unit who is a relative of the owner shall not be subject to the provisions of this Ordinance No. 2015-9 except that the owner shall register the rental unit without fee and shall comply with N.J.A.C. 5:70-2.3 (smoke detectors and carbon monoxide alarms and Chapter 121, Fire Prevention, Article II, Smoke Detectors, of the Borough Code).
