[HISTORY: Adopted by the Township Committee of the Township of Deerfield 4-4-1990 by Ord. No. 1990-8 (Ch. 100 of the 1984 Code). Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Uniform construction codes — See Ch. 69.
Fire insurance — See Ch. 89.
Fire prevention — See Ch. 93.
Housing standards — See Ch. 112.
Whenever the following terms are used in this chapter, they shall have the meanings respectively ascribed to them by this section as follows:
APPROVED RATING ORGANIZATION
Any of the following: Underwriters Testing Laboratories, Factory Mutual Research Corporation, National Bureau of Standards or NFPA Standard No. 74, 1975.
DWELLING UNIT
Any building or portion of a building which is arranged as a rental for the use by one or more individuals living alone or together which provides living, sanitary and sleeping facilities, also including house trailers, but not mobile trailers and tents. Examples of rental units: rooms, apartments and one- and two-family house.
FIRE OFFICIAL
The Fire Code Official of the Township of Deerfield who is appointed to enforce the Uniform Fire Safety Act in said Township.
SMOKE DETECTOR
An instrument approved by an approved rating organization for the detection of ionized gases or products of combustion produced by burning or smoldering materials.
Each dwelling unit in the Township of Deerfield, including dwellings consisting of three dwelling units, shall have a minimum of one electric-operated (with battery backup) smoke-detector device for each sleeping area located in said dwelling unit. Any such detector shall bear a seal, tested and listed by an approved rating organization. and shall comply in design to all applicable state, federal or industrial requirements.
The owner of each dwelling unit shall cause the same to be brought into compliance with the terms and provisions of this chapter by Deerfield Township; provided, however, that after the effective date of this chapter:
A. 
No dwelling unit shall be sold or the occupancy thereof changed unless and until the dwelling unit has been brought into compliance with the terms and provisions of this chapter.
B. 
No structural change or repair of a value in excess of $500 shall be made to a dwelling unit unless and until the dwelling unit is brought into compliance with the terms and provisions of this chapter.
Smoke detectors shall be capable of being installed and maintained by the person or persons entitled to occupy the dwelling unit. Smoke detectors shall consist of an assembly incorporating the detectors, control equipment and the alarm-sounding device in one unit. Each smoke detector shall have a power supply consisting of a monitored battery or shall be hard-wired directly into a household one-hundred-ten-volt circuit. Two or more single-station smoke detector assemblies may be connected so that actuation of one causes all integral or separate audible alarms to operate.
Upon activation, the smoke detector shall provide an audible alarm which is to be so distributed and have such character so that it can be heard in all rooms of the dwelling unit with its doors closed. The audible signals shall be distinctive from other audible signaling devices which may be used for other purposes in the dwelling unit. The smoke detector shall be designed for and shall be capable of either self-restoration or manual restoration to normal conditions for operation. No provisions shall be made for deactivation of the audible alarm other than by reactivation of the system.
The owner of any structure in the Township of Deerfield containing one or more dwelling units, up to a maximum of three dwelling units in any one multiple-family building, shall be responsible for installing smoke detectors as defined in this chapter within 90 days of the enactment of this chapter.
The owner of a building containing one or more dwelling units shall also be responsible for the maintenance of said detectors once they are installed. However, the tenant of any dwelling shall be responsible for the periodic testing of smoke detectors to ensure that they are operational during the term of such tenancy. In the event of a defective smoke detector, the tenant shall notify the owner within 24 hours. Each owner shall thereafter be responsible to repair or correct the defective smoke detector within five days of being notified that a detector is defective. Failure to correct a defective smoke detector within five days after notification shall constitute a violation of this chapter.
[Amended 7-2-2003 by Ord. No. 2003-3]
Township approval for occupancy in any dwelling unit located in a building containing three or fewer dwelling units shall not be issued, unless the Fire Official shall first inspect the dwelling unit to verify that smoke detectors have been installed and operational. In the event that said inspection reveals that no smoke detectors have been installed as required by this chapter or that the detectors so installed do not comply with the requirements of this chapter or that said detectors are not operational, no approval for occupancy shall be issued until this chapter has been complied with.
The Tax Collector of the Township of Deerfield shall provide to each person requesting a tax search from his/her office a statement calling attention to the provisions of this chapter and shall inform the persons requesting a tax search of the obligation of the owner and seller of real estate property to obtain an inspection by the Housing Official and to install smoke detectors as provided herein prior to final settlement on the property.
Any person, firm or corporation who shall violate any of the provisions of this chapter or who shall fail to comply with the provisions herewith shall be liable to a fine of not more than $500 or to imprisonment of not more than 30 days, or both. Each day such violation continues shall be deemed a separate and distinct violation of this chapter.