Effective immediately, the owner of any vacant property as defined
herein shall, within 30 calendar days after the building becomes vacant
property or within 30 calendar days after assuming ownership of the
vacant property, whichever is later, or within 10 calendar days of
receipt of notice by the municipality, file a registration statement
for such vacant property with the Township Code Enforcement Inspector
(or contractor hired by the Township for this purpose) on forms provided
by the Township or its contractor. The owners of property that is
vacant on the effective date of this article shall have 30 days to
register that property as set forth herein. Failure to receive notice
by the municipality shall not constitute grounds for failing register
the property.
A. Each property having a separate block and lot number as designated
in official records of the municipality shall be registered separately.
B. The registration statement shall include the name, street address,
telephone number, and e-mail address (if applicable) of a person 21
years or older, designated by the owner or owners as the authorized
agent for receiving notices of code violations and for receiving process
in any court proceeding or administrative enforcement proceeding on
behalf of such owner or owners, in connection with the enforcement
of any applicable code; and the name, street address, telephone number,
and e-mail address (if applicable) of the firm and the actual name(s)
of the firm's individual principal(s) responsible for maintaining
the property. The individual or representative of the firm responsible
for maintaining the property shall be available by telephone or in
person on a twenty-four-hour-per-day, seven-day-per-week basis. The
two entities may be the same or different persons. Both entities shown
on the statement must reside or maintain offices in the State of New
Jersey.
C. The registration shall remain valid for one year from the date of
registration. The owner shall be required to renew the registration
annually as long as the building remains a vacant property and shall
pay a registration or renewal fee in the amount prescribed in the
fee schedule of this article for each vacant property registered.
D. The annual renewal shall be completed within 15 days of the prior
year's registration form's expiration date. A notice and invoice will
be sent 30 days in advance of the renewal due date.
E. The owner shall notify the Code Enforcement Officer (or hired contractor)
within 30 days of any change in the registration information by filing
an amended registration statement.
F. The registration statement shall be deemed prima facie proof of the
statements contained therein in any administrative enforcement or
court proceeding instituted by the Township against the building owner.
The owner of any vacant property registered under this article
shall provide access to the Township to conduct exterior and interior
inspections of the building to determine compliance with municipal
codes, upon reasonable notice to the property owner or the designated
agent. Such inspections shall be carried out on weekdays during the
hours of 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., or such other time as may be mutually
agreed upon between the owner and the Township.
[Amended 6-6-2022 by Ord. No. 1647-22]
The initial and subsequent annual registration fee for each building shall be $500. Registrations must be renewed annually in accordance with §
193-24D.
The owner of any building that has become vacant, and any person
operating or collecting rent for such building, shall, within 30 days
thereof:
A. Enclose and secure the building against unauthorized entry as provided
in the applicable provisions of the Township Code.
B. Post a sign on the building indicating the name, address and telephone
number of the owner and/or the owner's agent for the purpose of service
of process, as well as the name, address and phone number of the person
responsible for day-to-day management of the building. The sign shall
be at least eight inches by 10 inches in size and shall be legible
from the nearest street or sidewalk.
C. Secure the building and maintain the sign until the building is again
legally occupied or demolished, or repair is complete.
D. Ensure that the exterior grounds of the structure are well maintained
and free from trash debris, litter and grass and weed growth.