[HISTORY: Adopted by the Township Committee
of the Township of Rochelle Park as indicated in article histories.
Amendments noted where applicable.]
[Adopted 6-21-2017 by Ord. No. 1111-17]
The Mayor and Township Committee hereby find and adopt, as if
set forth more fully herein, the fact assertions of the "whereas"
clauses of this article,[1] as their findings of fact.
[1]
Editor's Note: "This article" refers to Ord. No. 1111-17,
adopted 6-21-2017. The complete text of the ordinance, including the
"whereas" clauses, are on file in the Township offices.
A.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in the Borough
Code, it shall be unlawful for an owner, lessor, sublessor, any other
person(s) or entity(ies) with possessory or use right(s) in a dwelling
unit, their principals, partner or shareholders, or their agents,
employees, representative and other person(s) or entity(ies), acting
in concert or a combination thereof, to receive or obtain actual or
anticipated consideration for soliciting, advertising, offering, and/or
permitting, allowing, or failing to discontinue the use or occupancy
of any dwelling unit, as defined herein, for a period of 30 days or
less.
B.
Nothing in this article will prevent formation of an otherwise lawful
occupancy of a dwelling unit for a rental period of more than 30 days.
As used in this article, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated:
- ADVERTISE OR ADVERTISING
- Any form of solicitation, promotion and communication for marketing, used to solicit, encourage, persuade or manipulate viewers, readers or listeners into contracting for goods and/or services in violation of this article, as same may be viewed through various media, including, but not limited to, newspapers, magazines, flyers, handbills, pamphlets, commercials, radio, direct mail, Internet websites, or text or other electronic messages for the purpose of establishing occupancies or uses of rental property, for consideration, which are prohibited by this article.
- CONSIDERATION
- Soliciting, charging, demanding, receiving or accepting any legally recognized form of consideration, including a promise or benefit, a quid pro quo, rent, fees, other form of payment, or thing of value.
- DWELLING UNIT
- Any structure, or portion thereof, whether furnished or unfurnished, which is occupied in whole or in part, or intended, arranged or designed to be occupied, for sleeping, dwelling, cooking, gathering and/or entertaining, as a residential occupancy, by one or more persons. This definition includes an apartment, condominium, building, cooperative, converted space or portions thereof, that is offered to use, made available for use, or is used for accommodations, lodging, cooking, sleeping, gathering and/or entertaining of occupants and/or guest(s), for consideration, for a period of 30 days or less.
- HOUSEKEEPING UNIT
- Constitutes a family-type situation, involving one or more persons living together, that exhibit the kind of stability, permanency and functional lifestyle equivalent to that of a traditional family unit, as further described in the applicable reported and unreported decisions of the New Jersey Superior Court.
- OCCUPANT
- Any individual using, inhabiting, living, gathering, entertaining, being entertained as a guest, or sleeping in a dwelling unit, or portion thereof, or having other permission or possessor right(s) within a dwelling unit.
- OWNER
- Any person(s) or entity(ies), association, limited liability company, corporation or partnership or any combination, who legally use, possess, own, lease, sublease or license (including an operator, principal, shareholder, director, agent or employee, individual or collectively) that has charge, care, control or participates in the expenses and/or profit of a dwelling unit pursuant to a written or unwritten agreement, rental, lease, license, use, occupancy agreement or any other agreement.
- PERSON
- An individual, firm, corporation, association, partnership, limited liability company, association, entity and any person(s) and/or entity(ies) acting in concert or any combination therewith.
- RESIDENTIAL OCCUPANCY
- The use of a dwelling unit by an occupant(s).
The residential occupancy of an otherwise lawful and lawfully
occupied dwelling unit for a period of 30 days or less by any person
who is a member of the housekeeping unit of the owner, without consideration,
such as house guests, is permitted.
It shall be unlawful to advertise, solicit or promote by any
means actions in violation of this article.
A.
The provisions of this article shall be enforced by the Building
Code Official, Fire Official, Health Department, other Subcode or
Code Official, as their jurisdiction may arise, including legal counsel
for the Borough or other persons designated by the Township Committee,
to issue municipal civil infractions directing alleged violators of
this article and/or to appear in court or file civil complaints.
B.
A violation of this article is herby declared to be a public nuisance
per se, and is hereby further found and declared to be offensive to
the public health, safety and welfare.
C.
Any person found to have violated any provision of this article without
regard to intent or knowledge, shall be liable for the maximum civil
penalty, upon adjudicated violation or admission of a fine not exceeding
$1,250. Each day of such violations shall be a new and separate violation
of this article.
D.
The penalty imposed herein shall be in addition to any and all other
remedies that may accrue under any other law, including, but not limited
to, eviction proceedings and/or injunction, reasonable attorneys'
fees or other fees and costs, in the Borough's Municipal Court
or the Superior Court of New Jersey in the vicinage of Bergen County
or in such other court or tribunal of competent jurisdiction, by either
summary disposition or by zoning or construction code municipal proceeding.
