[1985 Code § 11-1.1; Ord. No. 2002-14]
Pursuant to Section 11 of the Uniform Fire Safety Act (P.L. 1983, c. 383) the New Jersey Uniform Fire Code shall be locally enforced in the Borough of Ringwood.
[1985 Code § 11-1.2]
The local enforcing agency shall be the Bureau of Fire Prevention in the Borough of Ringwood.
[1985 Code § 11-1.3]
The local enforcement agency shall enforce the Uniform Fire Safety Act, and the codes and regulations adopted under it, in all buildings, structures and premises within the established boundaries of the Borough of Ringwood, 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.
[1985 Code § 11-1.4]
The local enforcing agency established in subsection 15-1.2 shall carry out the periodic inspections of life hazard uses required by the Uniform Fire Code on behalf of the Commissioner of Community Affairs.
[1985 Code § 11-1.5; Ord. No. 2002-14]
The local enforcing agency established in subsection 15-1.2 shall be a part of the Department of Community Development and shall be under the direct supervision and control of the Fire Official who shall report to the Director of Community Affairs.
[1985 Code § 11-1.6; Ord. No. 2002-14]
a. 
Appointment of Fire Official. The local enforcing agency shall be under the supervision of the Fire Official who shall be appointed by the Borough Manager. In making this appointment, the appointing authority shall make the appointment from among a list of three recommendations provided by the Ringwood Emergency Volunteer Officer Association.
b. 
Term of Office. The Fire Official shall serve for a term of three years. Any vacancy shall be filled for the unexpired term.
c. 
Inspectors and Employees. Such inspectors and other employees as may be necessary in the local enforcing agency shall be appointed by the Borough Manager upon the recommendation of the Fire Official.
d. 
Removal from Office. The Fire Official and Inspectors and other employees of the enforcing agency shall be subject to removal by the Municipal Manager for inefficiency or misconduct. Each inspector or employee to be so removed shall be afforded an opportunity to be heard by the appointing authority or a designated hearing officer.
[1985 Code § 11-1.7]
Pursuant to Section 15 and 17 of the Uniform Fire Safety Act, any person aggrieved by any order of the local enforcement agency shall have the right to appeal to the Construction Board of Appeals of Passaic County.
[1985 Code § 11-1.8; Ord. No. 2002-14; Ord. No. 2018-04]
a. 
In addition to the inspections and fees required by the Act and the regulations of the Department of Community Affairs, the following additional inspections and fees shall be required for all industrial, commercial and professional occupancies:
1. 
Occupancies up to 999 square feet shall be charged an annual fee of $60.
2. 
Occupancies of 1,000 square feet up to 4,999 square feet shall be charged an annual fee of $80.
3. 
Occupancies of 5,000 square feet and over shall be charged an annual fee of $100.
b. 
Reinspection of the same premises which discloses that any prior violations have been corrected and which are requested by the occupant within 60 days of notification of violations shall not require an additional fee.
c. 
The fees collected under the terms of this section shall be used for the purpose of paying any and all expenses incurred for the service of the Fire Official and administrative costs of the Fire Prevention Bureau.
d. 
The fees of this section shall not apply to life hazard uses.
[1985 Code § 11-1.9; Ord. No. 2002-14; Ord. No. 2008-#23 § 1]
The permit fees shall be equal to the permit fees established in the New Jersey Uniform Fire Code under N.J.A.C. 5:70-2.9(c).
[1]
Editor's Note: Prior ordinance history includes portions of 1985 Code §§ 11-2.1—11-2.4
[Ord. No. 2008-#23 § 2]
The New Jersey Uniform Fire Safety Act (N.J.S.A. 52:27D-198 et seq.) and New Jersey Uniform Fire Code (N.J.A.C. 5:70-4.19) require that prior to any change of occupancy in a one- or two-family residential property, a certificate of compliance with the above referenced standards must be issued. Prior to the sale, rental, transfer, lease or change of occupancy of any residential structure or part thereof, the owner shall first obtain from the Bureau of Fire Prevention, a certificate of compliance stating that the property is in compliance with the standards referenced earlier in this section.
[Ord. No. 2008-#23 § 2]
The local enforcing agency established in subsection 15-1.2 shall carry out the inspection and certification of compliance of residential properties.
[Ord. No. 2008-#23 § 2; Ord. No. 2018-04]
Application for compliance inspection shall be made on forms and manner deemed appropriate by the Fire Official. The compliance inspection fee shall be based upon the amount of time remaining before the change of occupant, date of closing, or the desired inspection date. The requested inspection shall be scheduled starting the next business day after the application and fee are received.
a. 
Requests for a CSACMPFEC received more than 10 business days prior to the date of the inspection: $50 per inspection
b. 
Requests for a CSACMPFEC received four to 10 business days prior to the date of the inspection: $85 per inspection
c. 
Requests for a CSACMPFEC received fewer than four business days prior to the date of the inspection: $140 per inspection.
Should an applicant fail an inspection, the fee for the reinspection shall be based on the date of their original application.
[Ord. No. 2008-#23 § 2]
A Change of Residential Occupancy Certificate of Compliance may only be issued following an inspection in which the local enforcing agency determines that the property is in compliance with the above referenced regulations and all required fees have been paid.
[1985 Code § 11-2.5]
Any person or corporation, including an officer, director, or employee of a corporation who violates any of the provisions of this chapter shall commit a violation of the Uniform Fire Safety Act of New Jersey and shall be subject to a fine of not more than $500 for the first offense, and not more than $2,000 for a subsequent offense, which penalty shall be enforceable by civil action in a summary manner under the Penalty Enforcement Law N.J.S.A. 1A:58-1 et seq. In addition, a violator who fails to pay may be imprisoned for up to six months. In case of continuing violations, each day that the violation persists shall be deemed a separate violation. In addition, the violator shall become liable to the Borough for the cost of suppressing any fire directly or indirectly resulting from the violation pursuant to the provisions of N.J.S.A. 52:27D-210.