[HISTORY: Adopted by the Mayor and Council of the Township of Vernon 11-14-2016 by Ord. No. 2016-24. Amendments noted where applicable.]
As used herein, the following words shall have the following meanings:
ATTIC
The open, non-habitable space between the ceiling beams of the top habitable story and the roof rafters in any building. Habitable and non-habitable space is determined through use of State floor-to-ceiling height regulations.
BASEMENT
A story partly underground and having more than one-half (1/2) of its clear height below the finished grade. A basement shall not be considered a story for purposes of height measurement in determining the permissible number of stories when used solely for incidental or accessory storage or for the housing of mechanical equipment, to include a hot-water heater and furnace, for a washer, dryer, recreation room and a bathroom, either partial or full.
BATHROOM (FULL)
Any enclosed space which contains a bathtub and/or shower, a lavatory and/or a sink or fixtures serving similar purposes.
BATHROOM (PARTIAL)
Any enclosed space which contains a lavatory and a sink or fixtures serving a similar purpose.
DWELLING INSPECTION
An inspection conducted to determine a unit's compliance with the housing standards of the Township of Vernon.
DWELLING UNIT
Any room or group of rooms located within a building or portion thereof, forming a single habitable unit with facilities that are used, designed or arranged to be used for living, sleeping, cooking and sanitary facilities.
IMPERMISSIBLE DWELLING UNIT
A dwelling unit:
(1) 
For which no certificate of occupancy has been issued;
(2) 
Which is in excess of the number of such units for a particular building or zone according to the Zoning Code; or
(3) 
That was created without the required plumbing-electrical or building permits.
KITCHEN
Any space containing plumbing fixtures, in conjunction with other facilities, for the storage and preparation of food.
OWNER
The holder or holders of the title to the premises in fee simple or having charge, care or control of the premises, as owner, agent of the owner or as executor or mortgagee in possession, regardless of how such possession was obtained.
TENANT
Any person residing with the consent of the owner in an apartment or unit of housing space.
A. 
Any one of the following shall constitute an "illegal" apartment or dwelling unit:
(1) 
An apartment or dwelling unit which exceeds the legal dwelling/occupancy units that are on record with the Township's Code Enforcement Official;
(2) 
An apartment or dwelling unit which would exceed the number of units permitted under the Zoning Ordinance or any approvals granted by the Land Use Board of the Township of Vernon;
(3) 
An apartment or dwelling unit which fails to meet the requirements of any regulation affecting health, safety or welfare of the general public;
(4) 
An apartment or dwelling unit which the owner has permitted occupancy thereof without obtaining the required plumbing, electrical and building permits.
B. 
No person shall rent, or allow to be occupied, an "illegal" apartment or dwelling unit, or permit same to be occupied by any tenant or other person, in:
(1) 
A building which such person owns or otherwise controls;
(2) 
A dwelling unit which such person rents or otherwise controls.
A. 
Unapproved occupancies of attics are prohibited.
B. 
Any residential attic used for any purpose other than incidental storage must meet the following criteria:
(1) 
Under no circumstances shall a bathroom be permitted in the attic, whether partial or full, after enactment of this section;
(2) 
There shall be no kitchen or any semblance of same (i.e. hotplate, refrigerator, food cabinets, sink);
(3) 
Except for required fire exits, access to the attic or basement shall be through the dwelling unit;
(4) 
Under no circumstances shall the attic be offered as a separate dwelling unit, rooming unit or independent rooming unit;
(5) 
An attic must be an integral part of the dwelling unit and shall not be leased to any party that does not have full access and rights to the dwelling unit.
A. 
Any residential cellar or basement used for living space must meet the following criteria:
(1) 
Except for required fire exits, access to the cellar or basement shall be through the dwelling unit;
(2) 
A cellar or basement must be an integral part of the dwelling unit and shall not be leased to any party that does not have full access and rights to the dwelling unit;
(3) 
A full or partial bathroom shall be permitted, provided the primary access to same is through the existing dwelling unit.
A. 
Any tenant who receives a notice of eviction resulting from zoning or code enforcement activity for an illegal occupancy, shall be considered a displaced person and shall be entitled to relocation assistance paid by the landlord in an amount equal to six (6) times the monthly rent.
B. 
The owner of the structure shall be liable for the payment of relocation assistance pursuant to this section, and shall make payments for assistance directly to the displaced tenant.
C. 
In addition to paying damages, as set forth in this section, the owner of the real property shall also return to the displaced person any security deposit, together with interest, plus any rental payment required to be apportioned upon notification by the enforcement official that the illegal apartment or dwelling unit must be vacated.
A. 
In addition to eviction and relocation expenses permitted under § 325-5, any person who violates this chapter shall be subject to the following fines:
(1) 
For the first offense, a mandatory fine of one thousand five hundred ($1,500.) dollars shall be imposed;
(2) 
For the second offense, a mandatory fine of five thousand ($5,000.) dollars shall be imposed;
(3) 
For the third offense and all subsequent offenses, a mandatory fine of eight thousand ($8,000.) dollars shall be imposed or imprisonment for a term not to exceed ninety (90) days, or both.
B. 
For purposes of determining violations under this section, each and every day of continued rental or occupancy shall be deemed a separate and distinct violation.
C. 
The provisions of this section shall be enforced by all members of the Township of Vernon Police Department, the Construction Code Official, and/or the Code Enforcement Official of the Township of Vernon.