[HISTORY: Adopted by the Mayor and Council of the Borough of Hopatcong 12-17-2025 by Ord. No. 12-2025. Amendments noted where applicable.]
The following words and phrases, when used in this chapter, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning:
BUSINESS
Any person or entity offering and/or engaged in buying, selling, storing, and/or transferring merchandise, goods, real property, personal property, moneys, services, and/or other items who do so for a fee, price, retainer, commission, percentage, and/or other means of compensation for the purpose, stated or otherwise, of realizing a profit or other gain.
CERTIFICATE OF INSURANCE
A proof of current liability insurance insuring against negligent acts and omissions for a particular property and premises issued by an insurance company and stating coverage for a particular property and premises.
OWNER
A person, entity, who owns, possesses, or has the right to control through any agency agreement any residential rental unit or units, or who owns or possesses a business which owns or possesses any residential rental unit or units.
RESIDENTIAL RENTAL UNIT
Any single-family residence, apartment, studio, condominium, and/or other dwelling designed to be occupied by one or more persons and rented, leased and/or otherwise offered for use by other than the owner for one or more nights in a calendar year.
All persons who own, possess, or control any business or residential rental unit or units located within the Borough of Hopatcong shall annually register each and every said business or residential unit or units with the Municipal Clerk of the Borough of Hopatcong in such form as may be required by the Borough of Hopatcong from time to time.
A. 
All businesses or residential units shall be registered with the Municipal Clerk no later than January 30 of each calendar year.
B. 
The annual fee for registering as a business or as a residential rental unit owner with the Borough of Hopatcong is $200 per business or residential rental unit for the first year and $100 for each subsequent year thereafter.
C. 
A residential rental unit owner shall be required to register all residential units owned by that owner every year when registering as a residential unit owner with the Municipal Clerk.
D. 
There shall be a late fee of $25 for every registration which is submitted after January 30 of each calendar year.
E. 
All residential rental units located in any residential setting which is regulated, registered, or otherwise subject to the jurisdiction of the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs Bureau of Housing Inspections are exempt from this requirement.
The owner of a business, owner of a rental unit or units, and/or the owner of a multifamily home of four or fewer units, one of which is owner-occupied, shall annually register the certificate of insurance demonstrating a certificate of insurance with the Borough of Hopatcong as follows:
A. 
Except as provided in Subsection B of this section, the owner of a business or the owner of a rental unit or units shall maintain liability insurance for negligent acts and omissions in an amount of no less than $500,000 for combined property damage and bodily injury to or death of one or more persons in any one accident or occurrence.
B. 
The owner of a multifamily home which is four or fewer units, one of which must be owner-occupied, shall maintain liability insurance for negligent acts and omissions in an amount of no less than $300,000 for combined property damage and bodily injury to or death of one or more persons in any one accident or occurrence.
A. 
Any person, firm, or corporation that shall be convicted of a violation of a provision of this chapter shall, upon conviction thereof by any court authorized by law to hear and determine the matter, be subject to a fine not exceeding $1,000 or imprisonment for a term not exceeding 90 days, or both, as such court in its discretion may impose. Each day that such violation exists shall constitute a separate offense.
B. 
The Borough may collect through a summary proceeding under N.J.S.A. 2A:58-10 et seq. a fine of not less than $500 but no more than $5,000 for failing to file with the Municipal Clerk a certificate of insurance registration as required by P.L. 2022, c. 1368.