[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 Township Code, it shall be unlawful for any owner, lessor, sublessor or 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 of a combination thereof, to allow and/or permit or failure to discontinue the use or occupancy of any dwelling unit, as defined herein, for a period of 30 days or less. A violation of this section shall be deemed to exist regardless of whether the owner, lessor, sublessor or any other person receives actual or anticipated consideration for the same. The payment of such consideration, as defined herein, shall, however, be considered as further evidence of a violation of the provisions of this chapter.
[Amended 7-28-2021 by Ord. No. 1177-21]
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.
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.