For the purpose of this chapter, the following words will have
the following meanings:
MOTEL
Any structure, group of structures, or any portion of any
structure that is occupied or intended or designed for occupancy by
transients for dwelling, lodging or sleeping purposes. For purposes
of this chapter, the term "motel" shall include any hotel, inn, tourist
home or residential rental housing having three or more rental units
or apartments, or any other similar structure or portion thereof.
OCCUPANCY
The use or possession or the right to the use or possession
of any room(s) or portion thereof in any motel for sleeping purposes.
OPERATOR
Any person, as defined herein, and including agents, employees,
and independent contractors thereof, responsible for the day-to-day
management and performance of motel activities.
RENT
The consideration charged, whether or not received, for the
occupancy of space in the motel valued in money, whether to be received
in money, goods, labor or otherwise, including all receipts, cash,
credits and property and service of any kind or nature, without reduction
therefrom whatsoever.
TRANSIENT
One whose presence in Mount Laurel Township is temporary
or fleeting. In determining whether a person is a "transient," uninterrupted
periods of time extending both prior or subsequent to the effective
date of this chapter may be considered.
The sleeping accommodations of a motel shall be rented only
for the use of guests as transient occupants and shall not be used
or occupied on any permanent basis, and no such occupant shall be
deemed to be a resident therein. Every motel shall maintain at all
times a complete register of all rentals there and the true identification
and correct dates of occupancy of each person using any room on the
premises.
A. No guest shall use or occupy any room or a portion of any room in
any motel for a period of more than 14 consecutive days or more than
14 days during any ninety-day period. A portion of a calendar day
shall constitute a full day. The period of occupancy continues even
if the occupant moves to another room in the same motel or to another
motel within the Township of Mount Laurel.
B. A minimum of seven days prior to the expiration of the fourteen-day
limit, it shall be an affirmative duty of the operator to petition
the Chief of Police in writing to permit a guest to avail himself
of the use of the motel for a period longer than 14 days when such
guest provides i) proof of current, valid residency more than 30 miles
from Mount Laurel Township and is utilizing the motel while performing
a temporary function or service in Mount Laurel Township, such as
employment on a construction project, or ii) where the guest is in
need of temporary quarters while improvements are being performed
on the guest's primary residence, making it temporarily uninhabitable,
where such time frame remains limited to a definite timeline and where
vacancy of the motel premises will occur at the conclusion of the
construction project or the primary residence becomes habitable. The
decision to permit any stay longer than 14 days remains at the sole
discretion of the Chief of Police and may be appealed to the Township
Council in writing and filed with the Township Clerk.
(1) In the event that objections in writing are filed with the Township
Clerk as to the denial of permission to stay longer than 14 days,
the Township Council shall set a date for a hearing to be held on
the denial of permission at a reasonable time thereafter. The Township
Council shall then proceed to hear the objections and all evidence
and within 10 days determine whether the appeal shall be granted or
denied. A denial of an appeal shall be in writing, and the reasons
for a denial shall be stated. If the circumstances warrant, the Township
Council may hold an additional hearing on a date set by the Township
Council.
C. Identification of renters; renting for improper purposes prohibited.
In addition to the other rules and regulations promulgated hereunder,
no licensee shall knowingly rent, allow or permit any room on the
licensed premises to be used for any illegal or immoral purpose. The
licensee's failure to set forth the true identity and correct hours
shall serve as prima facie evidence of violation of this provision.
D. The owner or employee shall not rent any room more than two times
during any twenty-four-hour period, beginning at 12:00 noon and ending
at 12:00 noon the following day.