[HISTORY: Adopted by the City Council of the City of Bridgeton as indicated in article histories. Amendments noted where applicable.]
[Adopted 8-16-2022 by Ord. No. 22-19]
As used in this article, the following terms shall have the following meanings unless the context clearly indicates that a different meaning is intended:
BUSINESS
Retail sales or commercial activity involving the sale of goods, services, supplies, equipment, or products to and for the general public, excluding industrial uses, licensed professions, licensed trades, gas stations, and automobile dealerships with on-site inventory.
LICENSED PROFESSION
An occupation that properly involves a specialized education and which is licensed by the State of New Jersey, including, but not limited to, accountants, doctors, engineers, lawyers and teachers.
LICENSED TRADE
An occupation that properly involves a skilled craft and which is licensed by the State of New Jersey, including, but not limited to, electricians and plumbers.
PERSON
A person, association, corporation, LLC, firm, partnership, trust or other legal entity.
COMMERCIAL PREMISES
A fixed location within the municipality where business activity is conducted.
OCCUPANT
Any person having actual possession of the premises or any part thereof.
OPERATOR
Any person having actual possession of the premises or any part thereof. Any person who is a lessee subletting or reassigning any part or all of any commercial premises shall be deemed to be a co-owner with the lessor and shall have joint responsibility over the portion of the premises sublet or assigned by said lessee.
OWNER
Any person who, alone or jointly or severally with others, shall have legal or equitable title to any commercial premises, with or without accompanying actual possession thereof, or shall have charge, care or control of any commercial premises as owner or agent of the owner, or as fiduciary. Any person who is a lessee subletting or reassigning any part or all of any commercial premises shall be deemed to be a co-owner with the lessor and shall have joint responsibility over the portion of the premises sublet or assigned by said lessee.
A. 
No person, other than those exempt from this article as set forth herein, shall conduct business on property within the City without first obtaining a certificate of business compliance from the Bureau of Fire Prevention.
B. 
No person, other than those exempt from this article, that acquires or purchases a business or property within the City shall operate said business therein without first obtaining a certificate of business compliance.
C. 
No person, other than those exempt from this article, shall change the use of a business premises or add different business uses on a premises within the City without first obtaining a certificate of business compliance.
D. 
No person shall operate a business on residential property within the City without first obtaining a certificate of business compliance.
E. 
No certificate of business compliance shall be issued by the Bureau of Fire Prevention unless the subject property or premises complies with the standards contained herein.
This article shall not apply to home-based businesses where:
A. 
The operating of that home-based business does not require a change or alteration of the physical structure and/or change and alter the intended primary use of the residentially zoned dwelling; and
B. 
The operating of that home-based business does not exceed the limit of one nonresident clerical employee; and
C. 
The operating of that home-based business is done on the interior of the residential dwelling; and
D. 
The operating of that home-based business does not include the installation of commercial or industrial-grade equipment and/or the storage of commercial or industrial-grade supplies and materials; and
E. 
The operating of that home-based business does not necessitate the creation of parking space(s) to accommodate that home-based business.
A. 
There shall be no application fee for a certificate of business compliance.
B. 
Upon issuance, the certificate of business compliance shall be prominently displayed on the premises or property at all times.
C. 
Certificates of business compliance are not transferable.
The initial application for a certificate of business compliance shall be made on a form provided by the City of Bridgeton and shall be submitted to the Bureau of Fire Prevention; such application shall be obtained from the Bureau of Fire Prevention. The application shall contain the following information:
A. 
Name of the business, including business type (i.e., LLC, corporation, partnership, etc.).
B. 
Physical address of the business.
C. 
Web address of business and/or email address of business (if applicable).
D. 
Mailing address of the business (if different from physical address).
E. 
Name, home address, telephone number, and email address of the owner(s).
F. 
Name, home address, telephone number, email of emergency/alternate contact(s).
G. 
Name, home address, telephone number, email of principal occupant (if different from owner).
H. 
Short description of the nature or type of business being conducted.
I. 
Hours and days of operation.
J. 
Number of employees.
K. 
Name of trash hauler to be used, number and location of dumpsters to handle solid waste.
L. 
Other information as needed by City officials relevant to the issuance of a BRC.
A. 
Upon filing the initial application on a form provided by the City of Bridgeton, applicants shall obtain required inspections and/or approvals consisting of the following:
(1) 
The subject property or premises shall be utilized in conformance with City of Bridgeton Zoning requirements,[1] and applicants shall obtain such written approval from the Zoning Officer and, if required, the Zoning Board of Adjustment.
[1]
Editor's Note: See Ch. 370, Zoning.
(2) 
The subject property or premises shall be maintained in conformance with the Uniform Construction Code[2] and any subcodes as applicable and shall obtain such approval(s) from the Construction Official (i.e., continued certificate of occupancy or certificate of occupancy) as may be required.
[2]
Editor's Note: See Ch. 126, Construction Codes, Uniform.
(3) 
The subject property and premises shall be maintained in conformance with the Uniform Fire Code, as applicable, and shall obtain such approval from the Bureau of Fire Prevention.
B. 
Upon receiving approval(s) from the Zoning Officer, Construction Official, and Bureau of Fire Prevention, a certificate of business compliance shall be issued by the Bureau of Fire Prevention. Additional approvals or authorizations may apply for establishments selling or serving alcohol.
A. 
A certificate of business compliance application may be rejected or denied if an application contains false information.
B. 
A certificate of business compliance application may be rejected or denied if the applicant/permittee has failed to comply with the regulations or standards contained in all applicable codes (Zoning, Construction, Property Maintenance, etc.) and ordinances.
Any person who shall violate the provisions of this article, who pleads or is found guilty, shall be subject to the following:
A. 
A fine of not less than $100 nor more than $1,000, at the discretion of the Municipal Court Judge.
B. 
Each day that a violation of this article continues to exist may be considered as a separate and distinct offense.
C. 
Fines assessed under this article shall be recoverable from the owner and may be placed as a lien on the real property.
If any section, paragraph, sentence, clause or phrase of this article be declared unconstitutional or invalid for any reason, the remaining portions of this article shall not be affected thereby and shall remain in full force and effect, and to that end the provisions of this article are hereby declared to be severable.