[HISTORY: Adopted 3-26-13 by Ord. No. 1-13 as amended through October 13, 2016. Amendments noted where applicable.]
For the purposes of this chapter, the terms herein are defined as follows:
GENERATOR
Reciprocating internal combustion engine and associated equipment, including but not limited to fuel tanks, cover, piping, pad and transfer switch, used to supply backup electric power when local utility is unavailable, not including portable generators.
EMERGENCY
The loss of primary power due to power outage beyond the control of the property owner.
No generator shall hereafter be permanently installed to serve any existing dwelling erected on a lot located in any residential district of the Borough of North Caldwell, unless such generator meets the requirements of this chapter and a permit to do so is first obtained from the Building Department. Generators shall be located in the rear yard or the side yard of the lot. All generators permanently installed in the side yard shall be screened with shrubbery or fencing at least 4 feet in height as approved by the Building Inspector. All screening or fencing shall be placed in accordance with the generator manufacturer's recommendations, the requirements of the National Fire Protection Association and the zoning requirements of the Borough of North Caldwell. All screening or fencing shall be maintained as originally approved. If the screening or fencing is not so maintained, any permit granted is subject to immediate revocation by the Building Inspector.
A. 
Except for generators serving a public purpose and owned and operated by the Borough, generators permanently placed on the ground or a pad shall be allowed only as follows:
(1) 
Only one permanent generator with an output of not more than 20 kW is allowed.
(2) 
The generator shall be set back a minimum of 5 feet from the side or rear property line and no greater than 15 feet from the principle structure.
(3) 
The generator shall be installed in accordance with the most current editions of the National Fire Protection Association, the National Electric Code, the International Fire Code New Jersey Edition, the International Plumbing Code New Jersey Edition and the International Residential Code New Jersey Edition.
(4) 
The footprint of the generator, including the pad, will not be counted as impervious coverage.
(5) 
The footprint, including the pad and cover, shall not exceed 12 square feet and a height of 4 feet.
(6) 
The generator shall be used only during periods of emergency or for periodic testing and necessary maintenance operations.
(7) 
The generator shall be exempt from the provisions of Chapter 64, Noise, of the Borough Code only when used for emergency purposes, testing or repairs and when outfitted with a working muffler.
(8) 
The exhaust of the generator shall, as much as practically feasible, be vented upwards or directed away from neighboring properties.
(9) 
The generator shall be operated for routine testing and maintenance purposes not more than one time in any seven-day period and no test shall exceed 30 minutes. Testing of emergency generators is permitted Monday through Thursday only (excluding holidays), between the hours of 11:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m. or 2:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m.
(10) 
Testing may be conducted when the unit is being repaired, provided that such testing period shall not exceed 30 minutes and shall be conducted only between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Monday through Saturday, excluding holidays.
The application for the installation of a generator in accordance herewith, on forms supplied by the Building Department, shall be accompanied by a survey prepared by a licensed land surveyor of the State of New Jersey, showing the property lines of the lot, the location of the building or structure, the front, side and rear yard dimensions and the proposed location, drawn to scale, of the generator.
Every application for the installation of a generator to serve a dwelling, building, or other structure shall be accompanied by a fee in accordance with the Fee Schedule of the Borough Code.
No generator shall be placed in operation, or routinely tested, unless and until inspected and approved by the North Caldwell Building Department.
[New]
Any person, firm, corporation or other entity who shall violate any of the provisions of this chapter shall, upon conviction, be subject to a penalty as stated in Chapter 1, Article II General Penalty, Section 1-5 et seq., and each day that such violation shall continue shall be deemed a separate offense.