All owners of vacant buildings shall comply with the applicable
provisions of the New Jersey Uniform Fire Code, N.J.A.C. 5:18-2 et
seq., as supplemented by the Fire Prevention Code of the City of Rahway,
and the following additional standards for fire safety:
A.
No vacant building shall contain any space utilized for the storage
of flammable liquids.
B.
No room within any vacant building shall be used for storage of debris,
junk, rubbish or wastes, furniture or building materials not intended
to be used in the existing building.
C.
The early detection and containment of fire being a valid municipal
concern, the boarding up of doors and windows shall not be permitted
except with the permission of the Construction Official in emergency
situations. When doors and windows are boarded up, they shall be covered
with no less than 1/2 inch exterior plywood or equivalent and be painted
the same color as the body of the structure. In no case shall the
boarding up of doors and windows be permitted for a period in excess
of six months. Should an owner find it necessary to board up doors
and windows in excess of six months, an application seeking permission
to do so must be made before the expiration of the six-month period
to the Code Enforcement Agency of the City of Rahway. At the time
of the application, all circumstances shall be set forth supporting
the owner's request for an extension of the time in which the vacant
building may remain boarded up.
D.
Windows of any vacant commercial building that are within 20 feet
of the ground, or which are easily accessible, may be secured with
security screens, bars, and/or grills and the security screens, bars,
and/or grills on open windows shall include quick-release mechanisms
all of which shall be subject to the approval of the Fire Subcode
Official of the City of Rahway prior to installation.
All vacant buildings shall comply with the following minimum
standards for safe and sanitary maintenance:
A.
Every foundation, exterior wall and exterior roof shall be weathertight,
watertight and rodentproof; kept in sound condition and good repair;
and be safe to use and capable of supporting the load which normal
use may cause to be placed thereon.
B.
Every yard area (front, side and/or rear) shall be properly graded
so as to prevent the accumulation of stagnant water.
C.
Every structure shall have all utilities, including, but not limited
to, gas, electric, water and sewer, turned off and/or disconnected
with sewer service to be sealed at the tap of said property.
D.
The exterior of the structure and the condition of accessory structures
shall be maintained so that the appearance of the entire premises,
including any and all structures and buildings thereon, shall reflect
a level of maintenance in keeping with the standards of the neighborhood,
and such that the appearance of the premises and structures shall
not create a blighting effect on the immediate neighborhood nor an
element leading to the progressive deterioration and degradation of
the neighborhood resulting in the diminution of property values in
the area.
All owners of vacant buildings shall be required to comply with
the following standards:
A.
Any yard area (front, side and/or rear) or parking lot adjacent to
a vacant building shall be cleared and maintained free of trash, solid
debris, or any other materials that cause litter.
B.
Grass, weeds, or vegetation shall not be permitted to grow or remain
on the side, front and/or rear yards of any vacant building so as
to exceed a height of eight inches.
C.
Vacant buildings, including any yard area (front, side and/or rear)
of such buildings, shall not be utilized for storage of any materials
whether solid or liquid.
D.
When a vacant building is found to be infested with rats, termites,
roaches and/or other insects and vermin, the owner shall undertake
an expedient means of extermination of such nuisances. Such extermination
shall be certified by an approved exterminator.
E.
All doors and/or lids on appliances, furniture utilized for storage,
or on heating furnaces, shall be locked in order to deny entry to
individuals where the potential for physical harm or death may result
should said door close to prevent the individual's escape.
The standards and requirements of this article shall apply as
long as any dwelling, building and/or commercial structure remains
vacant. Upon occupancy, the other appropriate sections of this chapter
shall prevail along with other state and local codes and regulations.
The owner of any commercial structure determined to be vacant
as defined herein, that contains a storefront, display window, and/or
any area intended to exhibit or display merchandise or conduct advertising,
shall place a display or a visual medium, such as mannequins, potted
plants or some form of decorative display, which will not, by its
appearance, create a blighting effect on the immediate neighborhood.
The following methods of obstructing windows and/or storefronts are
prohibited: the placement of newspaper or other types of newsprint
on windows and/or storefronts; the painting, soaping or hazing of
windows and/or storefronts; the boarding and/or placement of cardboard
or other similar material in windows and/or storefronts. The aforementioned
list is not intended to be exhaustive but rather illustrative as to
those types of conditions which are specifically prohibited under
this section.
