[HISTORY: Adopted by the Mayor and Council of the Borough
of Woodcliff Lake 12-7-2020 by Ord. No. 20-05. Amendments noted where
applicable.]
This chapter shall be known as the "Woodcliff Lake Certificate
of Continuing Occupancy Ordinance."
No person shall occupy or use any portion of a residential building
after such building or portion thereof has been vacated or sold, until
the owner or landlord thereof shall have applied for and secured a
certificate of continuing occupancy. Such certificate shall be issued
upon a determination by the Enforcement Officer that, based upon a
general inspection of the visible part of the building and the portion
thereof that has been vacated or sold, there are no imminent hazards,
outstanding permits nor illegal connections and that the premises
in question is in compliance with the applicable building, health,
safety, zoning and fire codes, regulations, ordinances, and statutes
of the Borough of Woodcliff Lake and the State of New Jersey.
A.
Prior to sale of any residential building involving a new occupancy, the Enforcement Officer shall issue a certificate of continuing occupancy in accordance with the standards set forth in the purpose detailed in § 135-2.
B.
A certificate of continuing occupancy shall include verification
that all permits issued have been closed, legible house numbers are
placed on the front of the property, verification that sump pumps
are not piped into the sanitary sewer system and are discharged properly
and that dead bolts on the front door are keyless on the interior
side of the door.
C.
No certificate of continuing occupancy may be issued to a residential building or any portion thereof unless an approved smoke detector device, carbon monoxide device and a portable fire extinguisher have been installed as required by applicable Borough Ordinance and State statute and all items set forth in Subsection B above have been verified.
D.
A certificate of continuing occupancy shall expire six months after
the date of issuance.
Prior to the sale of any residential building or any portion
thereof, the owner thereof shall apply to the Woodcliff Lake Building
Department, on an appropriate form, for a certificate of continuing
occupancy.
The Enforcement Officer shall conduct an inspection of said residential building or portion thereof which is to be sold, within a reasonable time, not exceeding 10 business days after completion of said application and verification of closed permits, and shall issue a certificate of continued occupancy, provided that the standards set forth in § 135-2 have been satisfied and, in the case of residential buildings, that the premises is in compliance with the requirement of installation of a smoke detector, carbon monoxide detector and a portable fire extinguisher.
If, after inspection by the Enforcement Officer, a certificate of continuing occupancy may not be issued to the residential building or portion thereof because of the existence of a violation of any code or failure to comply with the standards set forth in § 135-2 of this chapter, notice shall be given by the Enforcement Officer to the owner detailing the violations of applicable laws, regulations or ordinances. The Enforcement Officer shall have authority to issue any summons or complaint for any violation of any ordinance, statute or regulation against the owner and/or occupant of the residential building or portion thereof wherein the violation exists. In the event that any violations are found to exist, there shall be no new occupancy or use of the premises until the criteria has been satisfied for the issuance of the certificate of continuing occupancy.
The following fees shall be applicable for the inspection and
issuance of a certificate of continuing occupancy, including the smoke
detector and carbon monoxide detector compliance:
Any person violating any of the provisions of this chapter shall,
upon conviction thereof, shall be punishable by one or more of the
following: a fine of not more than $1,000.
