Editor's Note: For regulations regarding fireworks see Chapter 6, subsection 6-2.11, Discharge of Fireworks Restricted.
[1972 Code § 76-1]
Pursuant to N.J.S.A. 52:27D-202(a) of the Uniform Fire Safety Act (P.L. 1983, c. 383 Section 11) the New Jersey Uniform Fire Code shall be locally enforced in the Borough of Watchung.
[1972 Code § 76-2]
The local enforcing agency shall be the Watchung Fire Department Bureau of Fire Prevention.
[1972 Code § 76-3; Ord. No. 04/01; amended 3-17-2022 by Ord. No. 22/03]
The local enforcing agency shall enforce the Uniform Fire Safety Act and the codes and regulations adopted under it in all buildings, structures and premises within the Borough, other than owner-occupied buildings used exclusively for dwelling purposes and containing fewer than three dwelling units. (N.J.S.A. 52:27D-203(a))
[1972 Code § 76-4; amended 3-17-2022 by Ord. No. 22/03]
The local enforcing agency established in subsection 12-1.2 shall carry out at least once per year the periodic inspections of life hazard uses as defined in and required by the Uniform Fire Code N.J.A.C. 5:70-2.4 through N.J.A.C. 5:70-2.4D)) on behalf of the Commissioner of Community Affairs.
[Added 3-17-2022 by Ord. No. 22/03; amended 6-15-2023 by Ord. No. 23/07]
a. 
All commercial, industrial, educational, recreational, and other nonresidential uses that do not fall within the definition of life hazard uses shall submit an annual registration to the Borough of Watchung Bureau of Fire Prevention and shall be inspected annually by the local enforcing agency for compliance with the Uniform Fire Code.
b. 
All commercial, industrial, educational, recreational, and other nonresidential uses that are not within the definition of life hazard uses, upon a change of use or change of occupancy shall register with the Borough of Watchung Bureau of Fire Prevention and be inspected by the local enforcing agency for compliance with the Uniform Fire Code.
c. 
The necessary forms shall be provided by the Borough of Watchung Bureau of Fire Prevention and shall require information substantially similar to that required for the registration of life hazard uses as set forth in N.J.A.C. 5:70-2.6.
d. 
The annual registration and change of use/occupancy fees for non-life hazard uses are as follows:
Square Footage
Fee
0 to 500
$50
500 to 1,000
$60
1,001 to 2,000
$70
2,001 to 3,000
$80
3,001 to 4,000
$90
4,001 to 5,000
$100
5,001 to 6,000
$110
6,001 to 7,000
$120
7,001 to 8,000
$130
8,001 to 9,000
$140
9,001 to 10,000
$150
10,001 to 11,000
$170
11,001 to 12,000
$190
12,001 to 13,000
$220
13,001 to 14,000
$230
14,001 to 15,000
$250
15,001 to 20,000
$280
20,001 to 25,000
$310
25,001 to 30,000
$340
30,001 to 35,000
$370
35,001 to 40,000
$400
40,001 to 45,000
$430
45,001 to 50,000
$460
50,001 to 55,000
$500
55,001 to 60,000
$540
60,001 to 65,000
$580
65,001 to 70,000
$620
70,001 to 75,000
$660
75,001 to 80,000
$700
80,001 to 85,000
$740
85,001 to 90,000
$780
90,001 to 95,000
$820
95,001 to 100,000
$860
Each 5,000 or part over 100,000
$50
e. 
If an owner of a non-life hazard use has not registered and paid the appropriate fee, the local enforcing agency shall notify the owner in writing of said noncompliance, including an explanation of the nature of the noncompliance. The failure to comply within 30 days after receipt of said notice shall be a violation of this chapter.
[Ord. No. 02/15; amended 3-17-2022 by Ord. No. 22/03]
The local enforcing agency established by subsection 12-1.2 shall be under the direct supervision and control of the Fire Official, who shall report to the Borough Administrator.
[1972 Code § 76-6; amended 3-17-2022 by Ord. No. 22/03; 6-15-2023 by Ord. No. 23/07]
a. 
Appointment of Fire Official. The local enforcing agency shall be under the supervision of a Fire Official who shall be appointed by the Mayor with the advice and consent of the Council. The Fire Official shall serve as the chief administrator of the agency.
b. 
Term of Office. The Fire Official shall serve for a term of one year, or until a successor has been appointed.
c. 
Inspectors and Employees. The Mayor with the advice and consent of the Council shall appoint such inspectors and other employees as may be necessary in the local enforcing agency.
d. 
Removal from Office. Inspectors and other employees of the enforcing agency shall be subject to removal by the Mayor or the Council for inefficiency or misconduct. Each inspector or employee proposed to be removed shall be afforded an opportunity to be heard by the appointing authority or a designated hearing officer.
[1972 Code § 76-7; Ord. No. 04/01; amended 3-17-2022 by Ord. No. 22/03]
Pursuant to Sections 15 and 17 of the Uniform Fire Safety Act, any person aggrieved by any order of the local enforcing agency shall have the right to appeal to the Construction Board of Appeals of the County of Somerset upon written request for a hearing. A copy of the request shall be sent to the local enforcing agency at the time the request is made.
[1972 Code § 76-8; Ord. No. 06/05 § 1; amended 3-17-2022 by Ord. No. 22/03]
A structure used or intended for use for residential purposes by not more than two families shall have a smoke-sensitive and carbon monoxide alarm device on each level of the structure and outside each separate sleeping area in the immediate vicinity of the bedrooms and located on or near the ceiling, or as specified by manufacture installation recommendation. The installation of battery-operated smoke-sensitive and carbon monoxide alarm devices shall be accepted as meeting the requirements of this section. Additionally, fire extinguishers shall be installed (mounted unobstructed from view) within 10 feet of any and all kitchen areas.
[1972 Code § 72-9; Ord. No. 04/01; Ord. No. 06/05 § 2; amended 3-17-2022 by Ord. No. 22/03]
Before any structure set forth in subsection 12-2.1 above is sold, leased, or otherwise made subject to a change of tenancy or occupancy for residential purposes, the owner shall obtain a certificate of smoke sensitive and carbon monoxide alarm device and fire extinguisher compliance (Certificate of Smoke Detector Compliance - hereinafter referred to as “CSDC”) from the local enforcing agency. The application for a CSDC shall be provided by the local enforcing agency upon request of the applicant.
[1972 Code § 76-10; Ord. No. 06/05 § 3; amended 3-17-2022 by Ord. No. 22/03]
Compliance with the requirements of the Uniform Fire Safety Act relating to smoke-sensitive and carbon monoxide alarm devices and fire extinguishers in all multiple dwellings of more than two families shall be governed by the provisions of § 27-8 of the Code of the Borough of Watchung.
[1976 Code § 76-11; Ord. No. 04/01; Ord. No. 06/05 § 4; amended 3-17-2022 by Ord. No. 22/03]
All devices and equipment for smoke-sensitive and carbon monoxide alarm devices shall be approved or listed by a nationally recognized testing laboratory, i.e., UL or FM, and shall be in compliance with all regulations of authorizing agencies. It shall be the obligation of the owner of such smoke-sensitive and carbon monoxide alarm devices to maintain the same in operable condition at all times. Fire extinguishers shall meet or exceed the requirements set forth in N.J.A.C. 5:70-4.19(e).
[1972 Code § 76-12; amended 3-17-2022 by Ord. No. 22/03]
The enforcement and administration of the provisions of the smoke-sensitive alarm device provisions set forth herein are delegated to the Fire Inspector appointed in accordance with subsection 12-1.6 of this chapter. The Fire Inspector will prepare and arrange for the dissemination of appropriate forms, certificates, and other required paperwork to implement the requirements of this section. The certification of compliance with the terms of this section may be executed by the Fire Inspector once compliance has been completed.
[1972 Code § 76-14; Ord. No. 06/05 § 5; amended 3-17-2022 by Ord. No. 22/03]
The owner of the structure(s) referred to herein, which require the inspection and/or installation of smoke-sensitive, carbon monoxide alarm devices and fire extinguishers, shall be required to apply for an inspection to verify the owner's compliance with the terms of this section from the Fire Inspector, 10 working days prior to the date inspection is required. Provided the application is filed and the fee is paid to the Fire Inspector not less than 10 working days prior to the date of the requested inspection, the fee for the inspection shall be $100. If the application for the inspection is filed and/or the fee is paid nine or fewer working days prior to the date requested by the applicant for inspection, the fee shall be $150, or such other amount at the Fire Inspector's discretion, but not to exceed $150. The fee for any required reinspection (which shall not be those inspections referred to in subsection 12-2.7 hereof) shall be $25, which shall be due and payable at the time of reinspection.
[1972 Code § 76-15; Ord. No. 06/05 § 6; amended 3-17-2022 by Ord. No. 22/03]
The Fire Inspector performing the inspection called for herein shall be required to wait no more than 15 minutes after the time set for the performance of the inspection. If the person requesting the inspection does not appear to let the Fire Inspector into the property to be inspected within that fifteen-minute period, the owner or person requesting the inspection must request that the Fire Inspector return for the inspection and shall pay an additional fee of $25.
[1972 Code § 76-16; Ord. No. 06/05 § 7; amended 3-17-2022 by Ord. No. 22/03]
All certificates of compliance issued hereunder shall be valid for 60 days from the date of issuance. In the event closing of title or change of occupancy for the property for which the certificate is issued does not take place within the sixty-day period, the owner of the property will be required to obtain a new inspection of the same at the cost set forth in § 12-2.6.
[1972 Code § 76-17; Ord. No. 06/05 § 8; amended 3-17-2022 by Ord. No. 22/03]
All fees and revenues received pursuant to this Section 12-2 shall be appropriated by the Mayor and Borough Council to the Office of the Fire Inspector for the purpose of enforcing the Borough of Watchung's Fire Protection Code, as required by all applicable laws and ordinances.
[Added 3-17-2022 by Ord. No. 22/03; amended 6-15-2023 by Ord. No. 23/07]
a. 
All commercial, industrial, educational, recreational, and other nonresidential uses that are not within the definition of life hazard uses and have a fire suppression and/or sprinkler system shall register annually with the Borough of Watchung Bureau of Fire Prevention and shall be subject to an annual review by the local enforcing agency for compliance with all applicable laws and ordinances.
b. 
All commercial, industrial, educational, recreational, and other nonresidential uses that are not within the definition of life hazard uses and have a fire suppression and/or sprinkler system shall register upon a change of occupancy or change of use with the Borough of Watchung Bureau of Fire Prevention and shall be subject to a review by the local enforcing agency for compliance with all applicable laws and ordinances.
c. 
In order to complete the registration, all commercial, industrial, educational, recreational, and other nonresidential uses that are not within the definition of life hazard uses and have a fire suppression and/or sprinkler system shall complete a Borough of Watchung registration form, which shall include a certificate from a registered/certified fire suppression and/or sprinkler system professional stating that the current system is in full compliance with all applicable laws and ordinances.
d. 
Each separate building, store, premises, place, or location shall require a separate registration, unless a single system is utilized to cover and protect separate premises or locations, and in such a case, the single registration shall indicate the same.
[Added 3-17-2022 by Ord. No. 22/03; amended 6-15-2023 by Ord. No. 23/07]
The Borough of Watchung Bureau of Fire Prevention shall collect a fee of $75 for the registration of the fire suppression and/or sprinkler system for all commercial, industrial, educational, recreational, and other nonresidential uses that are not within the definition of life hazard uses.
[Ord. No. OR:10/16 § 1; amended 3-17-2022 by Ord. No. 22/03]
a. 
Designation of Fire Lanes and Fire Zones.
1. 
Certain areas within the Borough of Watchung shall be designated as fire lanes to provide clear access to buildings for firefighting equipment in the event of an emergency. Fire hydrants and water connection devices located on local, County, State, and private roads shall be designated as fire zones.
2. 
Fire lanes/fire zones may be located on public or private property.
3. 
Fire lanes/fire zones shall be established by the Fire Official, and drawings or pictures of properties delineating fire lanes/fire zones shall be kept on file in the Bureau of Fire Prevention.
b. 
Notice to Affected Property Owners.
1. 
Notice that a property requires the posting of signs or painting of fire lanes/fire zones shall be sent to the property owner by the Bureau of Fire Prevention, whether by personal delivery or certified mail.
2. 
Within 30 days of receipt of such notice, said property owner shall install required signs and paint required stripes.
c. 
Intervention by the Borough for Failure to Comply. In the event a property owner fails to comply with the requirements of this section, the Bureau of Fire Prevention shall issue a Notice of Violation, followed by a summons returnable in the Municipal Court if the violation is not abated within 10 days of the date of the Notice of Violation.
d. 
Parking, Stopping, or Standing of Vehicles Prohibited. No person shall park, stop, or leave standing any vehicle, whether attended or unattended, in any designated fire lane or fire zone or obstruct any designated fire lane or fire zone.
e. 
Fire Hydrants. No person shall park, stop, or leave standing any vehicle within 15 feet of any fire hydrant or other fire water connection device.
f. 
Restrictions for Loading Zones. In designated loading zones, attended vehicles may stop solely for the purpose of loading or unloading and only for the period of time necessary to accomplish such loading or unloading.
g. 
Installation of Signs, Painting of Lines.
1. 
Markings. The owner shall, within 30 days of being given notice to do so by the Fire Official, mark the lanes as follows:
Signs, with minimum dimensions of 12 inches by 18 inches constructed of metal with raised red letters a minimum of two inches in size on a white background shall be posted at a level of at least seven feet above grade, indicating "NO PARKING FIRE ZONE" or "NO PARKING FIRE LANE." Spacing of signs shall be even with a minimum of one sign for every 50 feet of fire lane or part thereof, or as ordered by the Fire Official. All signs and markings must be unobstructed and visible for a distance of at least 100 feet when viewed from a position approximately five feet above the ground while in the fire lane.
2. 
Diagonal yellow lines six inches in width shall be painted on the pavement along the length of the fire lane/fire zone. Fire Lanes or Fire Zones shall have a minimum width of 18 feet, a minimum depth of six feet from curb and/or edge of pavement, with lettering measuring 1 1/2 feet stating:
FIRE ZONE
NO PARKING
FIRE LANE
NO PARKING
or all as directed by the Fire Official.
3. 
Fire zones associated with fire hydrants and water connection devices shall be identified with yellow paint extending 15 feet in both directions on the curb and/or pavement where possible.
4. 
All curbing shall be painted yellow.
[Ord. No. OR:10/16 § 2; amended 3-17-2022 by Ord. No. 22/03]
The Borough of Watchung Police Department will enforce the fire lanes/fire zones parking restrictions. The Bureau of Fire Prevention will enforce the installation of signs and painting of lines in fire lanes/fire zones.
[Ord. No. OR:10/16 § 3]
a. 
Violators who park illegally in a fire lane or fire zone, obstruct fire hydrants from use, or obstruct Fire Department connections, shall be subject to a fine of $100. Said fine shall be imposed on complaint and conviction in the Municipal Court.
b. 
Property owners failing to install signs or paint pavement within 30 days of receipt of notice requiring such signs or painted pavement shall be subject to a fine not to exceed $500. Said fine shall be imposed on complaint and conviction in the Municipal Court. Each day that the property owner fails to install a sign or paint the pavement shall be considered a separate and specific violation.