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Township of Hamilton, NJ
Atlantic County
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Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Code
New Laws (5) Index Notes (2)
[Adopted 11-1-1993 by Ord. No. 1160-93]
Pursuant to Section 11 of the Uniform Fire Safety Act (P.L. 1983, c. 383),[1] the New Jersey Uniform Fire Code shall be locally enforced in the Township of Hamilton.
[1]
Editor's Note: See N.J.S.A. 52:27D-192 et seq.
The local enforcing agency shall be the Bureau of Fire Prevention, which is hereby created in the Township of Hamilton.
The local enforcement agency shall enforce the Uniform Fire Safety Code and the codes and regulations adopted under it in all buildings, structures and premises within the established boundaries of the Township of Hamilton, other than owner-occupied one- and two-family dwellings, and shall faithfully comply with the requirements of the Uniform Fire Safety Act and the Uniform Fire Code.
[Amended 4-3-1995 by Ord. No. 1199-95]
The local enforcing agency established by § 170-5 of this article shall carry out the periodic inspections of life hazard uses and non-life-hazard uses required by the Uniform Fire Code on behalf of the Commissioner of Community Affairs.
[Amended 11-6-1995 by Ord. No. 1224-95]
The local enforcing agency established by § 170-5 of this article shall be under the direct supervision and control of the Fire Official, who shall report to the Township Administrator.
[Added 4-3-1995 by Ord. No. 1199-95; amended 11-5-2001 by Ord. No. 1414-2001; 12-2-2002 by Ord. No. 1445-2002; 11-7-2005 by Ord. No. 1547-2005; 9-8-2009 by Ord. No. 1659-2009]
A. 
The fee for the first and one reinspection (if needed) conducted at the same location listed on the application form shall be assessed according to the table below. Any inspections conducted at this same location, after the initial inspection and subsequent reinspection shall be assessed at least the same inspection fee for each reinspection visit. The additional charge will be paid in full before the reinspection is scheduled.
(1) 
Commercial and professional uses (B, I, A, E, M).
Dimensions
(square feet)
Fee
3,000 and under
$75
3,001 to 6,000
$90
6,001 to 9,000
$100
9,001 to 11,999
$115
12,000 to 13,500
$130
(2) 
Industrial and utility uses (F, U, H).
Dimensions
(square feet)
Fee
3,000 and under
$65
3,001 to 6,000
$115
6,001 to 9,000
$165
9,001 to 11,999
$215
12,000 to 13,500
$265
(3) 
Warehousing uses (S).
Dimensions
(square feet)
Fee
3,000 and under
$65
3,001 to 6,000
$115
6,001 to 9,000
$165
9,001 to 11,999
$215
12,000 to 13,500
$265
B. 
Non-life-hazard uses that are not classified under one of the above use groups, but which are subject to registration and inspection under the Uniform Fire Code, shall be classified as a commercial use for the purpose of imposing a registration fee.
C. 
Vacant buildings shall be charged a registration fee consistent with the use and square footage outlined on the non-life hazard fee listing.
D. 
The applicable non-life-hazard uses, as registered within the Township, will be inspected on an annual revolving schedule.
E. 
Failure to return the completed registration form or pay the registration/inspection fee within 30 days of receipt of same may be subject to a monetary penalty which shall be a maximum of triple the amount of the applicable registration/inspection fee.
[Added 2-19-2019 by Ord. No. 1896-2019; amended 11-15-2021 by Ord. No. 1974-2021]
A. 
Registration fees for agricultural structures shall be collected in the manner provided for in § 170-9A.
Structure
Fee
Farm Market (as defined at N.J.S.A. 4:1C-3)
$25
Agricultural employee housing
$50
All other agricultural structures
Total area of all structures less than 15,000 square feet
$50
Total area of all structures 15,000 square feet or greater
$100
The Bureau of Fire Prevention shall be under the supervision of a Fire Official, who shall be appointed by the Township Committee.
Such inspectors and other employees as may be necessary in the local enforcing agency shall be appointed by the Township Committee upon the recommendation of the Fire Official.
[Amended 10-4-1999 by Ord. No. 1352-1999; 11-5-2001 by Ord. No. 1414-2001]
Inspectors and other employees of the enforcing agency shall be subject to removal by the Township Committee, upon recommendation of their immediate supervisor, for inefficiency or misconduct. Each inspector or employee to be so removed shall be afforded an opportunity to be heard by the Township Committee or designated hearing officer.
Pursuant to Sections 15 and 17 of the Uniform Fire Safety Act,[1] any person aggrieved by an order of the local enforcement agency shall have the right to appeal to the Construction Board of Appeals of Atlantic County.
[1]
Editor's Note: See N.J.S.A. 52:27D-192 et seq.
[Amended 4-3-1995 by Ord. No. 1199-95; 10-4-1999 by Ord. No. 1352-1999; 11-5-2001 by Ord. No. 1414-2001; 5-5-2003 by Ord. No. 1461-2003; 10-2-2006 by Ord. No. 1574-2006; 9-8-2009 by Ord. No. 1659-2009]
A. 
All permit fees shall be as specified in the New Jersey Uniform Fire Code, the applicable provisions of which are incorporated herein by this reference as if set forth in full.
(1) 
Type I, Type II, Type III, Type IV, Type V permits are required for certain activities as regulated by the New Jersey Uniform Fire Code. The fees for these permits must be collected before a permit can be issued. The Township Committee gives the authority to the Fire Official to waive the permit fees if the following criteria are met:
(a) 
All requests must be submitted with the Township permit application form no less than 15 days prior to the event.
(b) 
All requests for waivers for events to benefit a nonprofit organization or charity must include a letter, to the Fire Official, from the nonprofit/charitable organization, on its official stationery, verifying that it is a bona fide nonprofit/charitable organization [501(c)(3)][1]) and that the event is being held with its knowledge and for its financial benefit.
[1]
Editor's Note: See Internal Revenue Service regulations.
B. 
Motels, hotels and smoke detectors.
(1) 
Motels and hotels (R-2, R-1) not covered by life hazard use regulations shall be subject to the following inspection fee schedule:
(a) 
Fees for inspection are based on number of units as follows:
Number of Units
Fee
3-6
$120
7-12
$240
13-20
$360
Over 20
$600
(b) 
Common area fire protection systems, flat fee: $75 per building.
All ordinances and parts of ordinances of the Township of Hamilton heretofore adopted that are inconsistent with any of the terms and provisions of this article are hereby repealed to the extent of such inconsistency, including, by description but not limitation, Ordinance No. 544-75[1] and Ordinance No. 543-75.[2]
[1]
Editor's Note: Ord. No. 544-75 was repealed 8-19-1985 by Ord. No. 900-85.
[2]
Editor's Note: Ord. No. 543-75 was repealed 8-19-1985 by Ord. No. 900-85.
[Added 4-21-2003 by Ord. No. 1459-2003]
A. 
Purpose: to require rapid entry key box compliance for structures listed, except one- and two-family dwellings, and to establish installation requirements and compliance as determined by the Fire Official.
B. 
Key box required. The owner or person in control of the following types of buildings shall install and maintain a rapid entry key box of a type approved by the Fire Official:
(1) 
Any apartment building or other rental building containing two or more residential living units in which access to the building has one common entrance door to access the individual residential living units.
(2) 
Any nonresidential building where a fire detection or suppression system is maintained by an alarm company or has an external audible alarm.
C. 
Key box type and location. The key box shall be of a UL type and approved by the Township of Hamilton Fire Official. The key box shall be installed in a location or locations designated and approved by the Fire Official in consultation with the Fire Chief. The box shall be located at a height of not less than four feet and not more than six feet above final grade.
D. 
Key box contents. The rapid entry box(es) shall contain the following:
(1) 
Keys to locked points of ingress/egress, whether interior or exterior, of such buildings.
(2) 
Keys to all locked rooms and/or panels, including but not limited to mechanical, electrical, sprinkler and alarms.
(3) 
Key to locked elevator rooms and elevator controls.
(4) 
Keys to any fenced or otherwise physically secured areas.
(5) 
Keys to any other areas as determined necessary and appropriate by the Fire Chief or Fire Official.
(6) 
Emergency information card containing the name(s) and phone number(s) of emergency contacts for such building.
E. 
Compliance. All existing buildings shall comply with this section eight months from its effective date. All newly constructed buildings not yet occupied or buildings currently under construction and all buildings or businesses applying for a certificate of occupancy shall comply immediately. All buildings under plan review for future construction, the Fire Subcode Official shall be responsible for compliance with the section requirements.
F. 
Penalties. Penalties for noncompliance by any building owner in violation of the provisions of this section shall be subject to a fine up to $500, after receiving notice by the Fire Official.