The exterior of the premises and all structures thereon shall be kept free of all nuisances and any hazards to the safety of occupants, pedestrians and other persons utilizing the premises, and free of unsanitary conditions, and any of the foregoing shall be promptly removed and abated by the owner or operator. It shall be the duty of the owner or operator to keep the premises free of hazards, which include but are not limited to refuse, litter, trash, conditions of natural growth, ground surface hazards, accumulations of stormwater and sources of infestation.
A. 
It is hereby found and determined that plant life more than two and one-half (2 1/2) feet in height, growing within 10 feet of any roadway or within 25 feet of the intersection of any roadways in the city, may constitute a traffic hazard.
B. 
Whenever it shall be determined that plant life more than two and one-half (2 1/2) feet in height, growing within 10 feet of any roadway or within 25 feet of the intersection of any roadways in the city, constitutes a traffic hazard, the owner or tenant shall be required to cut the plant life to a height of not more than two and one-half (2 1/2) feet within 10 days after receipt of written notice from the Code Enforcement Official requiring the cutting.
C. 
No topsoil, earth fill, rubble or material of any kind shall be placed on any property within the City of South Amboy until a permit has first been obtained from the Division of Code Enforcement. A permit will not be issued in any instance where the resultant drainage pattern increases the flow or velocity of surface drainage to adjacent properties.
The interior of the premises, the exterior of dwelling structures and the condition of accessory structures shall be maintained so that the appearance of the premises and all buildings thereon shall reflect a level of maintenance in keeping with the residential standards of the neighborhood or such higher standards as may be adopted as part of the plan of urban renewal by the City of South Amboy and such that the appearance of the premises and structures shall not constitute a blighting factor for adjoining property owners nor an element leading to the progressive deterioration of the neighborhood with the accompanying diminution of property values. The exterior of every structure shall be kept painted and in good repair. Lawns, hedges and bushes shall be kept trimmed and maintained.
Parking of vehicles of any type in front yard areas, except driveways, shall be prohibited.
A. 
No more than one currently unregistered and/or uninspected motor vehicle shall be parked on any property in a residential district, and said vehicle shall not at any time be in a state of major disassembly, disrepair, nor shall it be in the process of being stripped or disassembled. A vehicle of any type shall not at any time undergo major overhaul, including body work, in a residential district. Automotive parts, tires and assemblies shall not be stored out of doors in any residential district for a period of more than 48 hours.
B. 
No boat or boat and trailer shall remain parked on any street or alley within the City of South Amboy or in any front yard within a residential zone of the City of South Amboy for a period of time exceeding 48 hours.
Every dwelling and accessory structure and every part thereof shall be kept structurally sound and in a state of good repair to avoid safety, health or fire hazards, including exterior walls, sidings and roofs. Every dwelling should be maintained weathertight and watertight.
A. 
Basements, cellars and crawl spaces are to be free of moisture resulting from seepage. Cross ventilation shall be required where necessary to prevent accumulations of moisture and dampness.
B. 
Floors of basements and cellars shall be paved with concrete not less than four inches thick and shall be maintained at all times in a condition so as to be smooth, clean, free from cracks, breaks and other hazards.
Every door and window or other outside opening used for ventilation purposes shall be supplied with approved screening. Every swinging door shall have a self-closing device in good working condition, except that such screens shall not be required for areas on a floor above the fifth floor and screen doors shall not be required on nonresidential structures where the doors are required to swing out as required in the Building Code.
Editor's note: currently building construction is regulated by a building code promulgated by the commissioner of community affairs under authority of the state uniform construction code act, N.J.S.A. 52:27d - 119 et seq.
All parts of the structure shall be kept in a clean and sanitary condition, free of nuisance and free from health, safety and fire hazards.
Floors, walls, including windows and doors, ceilings and other interior surfaces shall be maintained in good, clean and sanitary condition. Peeling paint, cracked or loose plaster, decayed wood and other defective surface conditions shall be eliminated.
Stairs and other exit facilities shall be adequate for safety as provided in the Building Code.
The owner or tenant of every building shall provide and at all times cause to be used adequate containers with close-fitting covers for the storage of garbage until removed from the premises for disposal. Storage space for such containers shall be provided in the rear of the structure.
A. 
No accumulation of garbage, refuse or rubbish shall be permitted on common stairways, areaways, balconies, porches, hallways, basements or cellars.
B. 
The owner or operator shall have the duty and responsibility of removing garbage.
C. 
In every building in which the owner does not reside, there shall be a responsible person, designated by the owner, whose duties include maintaining the commonly used parts of the premises and whose name and address are to be on file with the Construction Official.
Every dwelling unit shall have a bathroom containing a toilet, washbasin, bathtub or shower; shall be equipped with private kitchen facilities; and shall comply with such other requirements as are set forth elsewhere in this chapter. Where there are more than eight occupants, the said unit shall have two bathrooms. Each dwelling unit or rooming unit shall contain at least one closet for each bedroom located within the dwelling unit; every kitchen shall contain adequate storage facilities for dishes and utensils.
A. 
The water system shall be maintained in good and operable condition at all times so that sufficient and positive pressure shall be available at all installed hot- and cold- water faucets. Plumbing leaks shall be repaired immediately.
B. 
Every kitchen sink, bathroom sink and basin, tub or shower as required under this chapter shall be connected to both the hot- and cold-water lines. There shall be sufficient and adequate equipment maintained in good working condition to supply water at a minimum temperature of one hundred twenty degrees Fahrenheit (120° F.) at all times to each hot-water outlet.
C. 
Every dwelling unit shall contain a minimum of one bathroom with a flush toilet, a shower or tub and a wash-basin. The bathroom shall be located entirely within that unit and shall be completely enclosed, containing the facilities as set forth in a room which affords privacy to the occupants thereof.
D. 
All required plumbing facilities, exclusive of heating unit facilities, shall be maintained in a sanitary condition, free of defect and in operating condition at all times. Where the said facility or plumbing fixture shall be clogged or otherwise necessitate repair, such repairs shall be performed within 24 hours.
Every dwelling unit shall contain properly maintained central heating facilities of sufficient capacity to maintain a minimum inside temperature of sixty-eight degrees Fahrenheit (68° F.) in all habitable rooms, bathrooms and water closet compartments, measurable 36 inches above the floor at the center of any such room or compartment, when the outside temperature is zero degrees Fahrenheit (0° F.). Where the facilities are found to be of inadequate size or capacity to accomplish the foregoing, then the owner or operator shall, at the direction of the public officer, either increase the capacity of the heating system or close off habitable space so that the standard as established herein shall be met, provided that such space can be removed as habitable space without creating a violation of the standards established by this chapter.
A. 
Except as hereinafter stated, from October 1 to May 1 the interior of every dwelling unit or rooming unit, bathroom and water closet compartment shall be maintained during the entire day at a minimum temperature of sixty-eight degrees Fahrenheit (68º F.). Except as hereinafter stated, from May 1 to October 1 every dwelling unit, rooming unit, bathroom and water closet compartment shall be maintained at a temperature of sixty-eight degrees Fahrenheit (68º F.) during the entire day whenever the outside temperature falls below fifty-five degrees Fahrenheit (55º F.) at any time between the hours of 6:30 a.m. and 10:30 p.m. As used herein, the term "during the entire day" shall include the hours from 6:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. The presence of heating outlets, radiators, risers or returns in any hall or dwelling unit or rooming unit shall constitute a presumption that the owner is to supply heat as required hereunder, and in the absence of clear and convincing proof to the contrary, this presumption shall control.
B. 
Notwithstanding a contract by the occupant to supply his own heat as provided herein, where the heating unit is installed by or owned by the owner or operator, then the duty to maintain the same in operable and functioning condition as provided herein shall remain the duty of the owner or operator.
A. 
Where it is found, in the opinion of the public officer, that the electrical system in a structure constitutes a hazard to the occupants or the structure by reason of inadequate service, improper wiring or installation, deterioration or damage or for similar reasons, he shall require the defects to be corrected to eliminate the hazard.
B. 
Where there is electric service available to a structure, every habitable room of a dwelling unit and every guest room shall contain at least two separate remote outlets, one of which may be a ceiling or wall-type electric light fixture. In a kitchen, three separate and remote wall-type electric convenience outlets or two such convenience outlets and one ceiling or wall-type electric light fixture shall be provided. Every public hall, water closet compartment, bathroom, laundry room or furnace room shall contain at least one electric light fixture. In addition to the electric light fixture in every bathroom and laundry room, there shall be provided at least one electric outlet.
Lighting of hallways, stairways, landings and other spaces used by occupants in common as a means of passage shall be sufficient to provide at least five footcandles [five lumens] measured in the darkest portion. Light switches for stairs and hallways shall be readily accessible to occupants using the same. Every cellar, basement, work space and other part of the structure used occasionally and incidentally by the occupants shall be provided with artificial lighting available at all times so that there shall be at least three footcandles [three lumens] measured in the darkest portion trafficked by occupants.
A. 
No owner, operator or occupant shall cause any service, facility, equipment or utility which is required to be supplied by the provisions of this chapter, to be removed from or discontinued for an occupied dwelling unit or rooming unit, except for necessary repairs, alterations or emergencies or for such other reason as may be permitted pursuant to those sections of the city ordinances applicable to such service, facility, equipment or utility.
B. 
Where utilities and facilities, meaning, for the purposes of this section, gas, oil, water and heating systems, are not supplied directly and independently through the use of separate meters, tanks and piping to each individual dwelling unit in a building or structure, the landlord or owner is responsible for supplying same.
Every dwelling unit shall contain a minimum superficial floor area of 150 square feet for each occupant thereof, except that for the purposes of this section, children under one year of age shall not be counted as occupants. At least 50% of the minimum superficial floor area shall have a minimum ceiling height of seven feet.
A. 
Every room utilized for sleeping purposes shall have a minimum superficial floor area of 70 square feet for the initial occupant and 50 square feet of additional superficial floor area for each additional occupant, except that children under one year of age shall not be counted as occupants for the purposes of this section. Independent rooming units shall be rented for occupancy or occupied by adults and emancipated minors only, limited to a total occupancy by two persons.
B. 
Use of a cellar for sleeping purposes is hereby prohibited. Basements may be utilized for human habitation, provided that:
(1) 
There is sufficient light and ventilation, as more particularly required by Subsection C, and natural light and ventilation are not restricted by reason of walls or other obstructions located within six feet of any window required pursuant to this section.
(2) 
All furnaces or other heating facilities are so located, insulated and separated from living areas by fireproof partitions or walls necessary pursuant to regulations of the Fire Subcode Official that the same do not constitute an undue hazard to the safety and health of the occupants.
(3) 
The dwelling units and all walls and floors thereof are free of visible moisture and seepage at all times.
C. 
Every habitable room shall have at least one window or skylight facing directly to the outdoors. The minimum aggregate window or skylight area available to unobstructed light shall not be less than 8% of the floor area of such room. The window or skylight shall either open to 45% of the required area or the room shall be supplied with a mechanical ventilation system of sufficient capacity provided with proper openings for incoming or outgoing air to assure comparable ventilation. Openings for ventilation as required herein shall include windows, skylights, louvers, monitors or other openings, provided all such openings are easily operated by the occupants. Every bathroom and water closet compartment shall be adequately lighted and ventilated by natural or mechanical means.
D. 
On and after January 1, 1984, no cooking shall be permitted in any dwelling unit unless there are minimum sanitary facilities, which facilities shall include a kitchen sink of non-absorbent impervious material and a drainboard of appropriate materials, said sink to be connected to the hot- and cold-water lines; a waterproof washable container for garbage disposal, equipped with a lid or cover to prevent infestation; appropriate facilities for storage of food and either gas or electric refrigeration; means of ventilation sufficient to remove cooking odors to exterior of premises. Cooking facilities serving more than one dwelling unit or independent rooming unit or combination thereof shall not be permitted.
E. 
Independent rooming units shall, except in single-family dwellings, have a door opening directly into a common hallway or areaway. Any independent rooming unit located in the basement or at ground level of a dwelling shall be provided with a second means of egress with the same requirements as provided in Subsection B. Where there is an independent rooming unit located above the first story, a common hallway or areaway shall have two means of egress remote from each other and conforming to the requirements of the Building Code.
A. 
Floors of every structure shall be structurally sound and maintained in a clean and sanitary condition. Floors shall be considered to be structurally sound when capable of safely bearing imposed loads and shall be maintained at all times in a condition so as to be smooth, clean, free from cracks, breaks and other hazards. Every toilet, bathroom and kitchen floor surface shall be constructed and maintained so as to be substantially impervious to water and so as to permit such floor to be easily kept in a clean and sanitary condition. Nothing in this section shall be construed to prevent floors from being carpeted.
B. 
All buildings providing live entertainment shall provide a designated floor area where said performer acts.
(1) 
Floor area.
(a) 
The floor area must be clearly designated and shall not be located within five feet of the patron floor area whether such patron floor area shall be designated as a standing or sitting area.
(b) 
The floor area shall not be located within five feet of any distribution station for food or beverage or the location of any equipment or utensils utilized in such distribution.
(c) 
If the designated floor area shall be a stage, the stage shall be constructed in conformance with applicable codes. The minimum distance between the floor of one stage and the clear vertical height, free of encroachment, shall be eight feet.
(2) 
The stage area shall be lighted and ventilated in conformance with applicable codes.
(3) 
Independent and separate toilet facilities shall be provided for live entertainment. Said facilities shall include dressing room accommodations.