Exciting enhancements are coming soon to eCode360! Learn more 🡪
Village of Ridgewood, NJ
Bergen County
By using eCode360 you agree to be legally bound by the Terms of Use. If you do not agree to the Terms of Use, please do not use eCode360.
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Code
New Laws (24) Index Notes (1)
[HISTORY: Adopted by the Village Council of the Village of Ridgewood 3-9-2005 by Ord. No. 2927.[1] Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Fire prevention — See Ch. 149.
Towing — See Ch. 258.
Vehicles and traffic — See Ch. 265.
ATTACHMENTS
151a Schedule A
[1]
Editor's Note: This ordinance also repealed former Ch. 151, Fire Zones, adopted 8-27-1974 by Ord. No. 1541 as Ch. 12 of the 1974 Code.
The purpose of this chapter is to provide standards and regulations for no parking or standing in designated fire lanes/zones to ensure proper access for emergency apparatus to and throughout the site.
It shall be unlawful for any person to park or leave standing any vehicle, or place any obstruction, on lands designated as fire lanes/zones, whether publicly or privately owned, in the Village of Ridgewood after notice has been posted, as hereinafter provided.
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
FIRE LANES/ZONES
Areas designated by the Fire Official and properly posted and marked in accordance with this chapter. The terms "fire zone" and "fire lane" shall be interchangeable.
FIRE OFFICIAL
The Village of Ridgewood Official or his or her designated representative, as defined in the New Jersey Uniform Fire Safety Act.[1]
OWNER
A person who owns, manages, rents, leases or exercises control over a building, structure, premises or use or a portion thereof.
PERSON
Any natural person or individual, or any firm, partnership, association, limited partnership, sole proprietorship, corporation or any other business entity or any government agency or entity.
[1]
Editor's Note: See N.J.S.A. 52:27D-192 et seq.
This chapter shall be enforced by the Police Department and the Fire Official of the Village of Ridgewood.
A. 
The Fire Official shall (subject to review and written approval by the Village Manager) designate fire lanes on both private and public property in the Village of Ridgewood as deemed necessary for public safety. The Fire Official shall notify, in writing, the owner of said property, specifically describing the designated fire lanes as well as the standards of the Village of Ridgewood for posting and marking of fire lanes in accordance with the provisions of this chapter.
B. 
The marking of fire lanes shall be the responsibility of and at the expense of the owner and shall be completed within 30 days after receipt of the notification from the Fire Official.
The Police Department shall have the authority to remove or have removed all obstructions or vehicles as may be deemed by the Fire Official to violate this chapter at the expense of the owner of the obstruction or vehicle.
A. 
Signs.
(1) 
All signs shall be 12 inches by 18 inches in size.
(2) 
Light-reflective material shall be used for the sign background and lettering.
(3) 
All signs, whether wall or post-mounted, shall be placed 50 feet apart, center to center. Whenever the fire lane changes angle or direction more than 60°, a sign is to be placed at the point of change, and a sign is required at the beginning and end of the zone. In all circumstances, a sign shall be visible from another sign. Additional signs may be required, at the discretion of the Fire Official.
(4) 
The sign shall be placed at a height of seven feet, as measured from the ground surface to the bottom of the sign at an angle of 45° facing the direction of the flow of traffic.
(5) 
The fire lane sign shall state "NO PARKING OR STANDING FIRE LANE."
(6) 
Signs and striping shall be as identified on Schedule A attached hereto.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Schedule A is located at the end of this chapter.
B. 
Striping.
(1) 
Stripes shall be minimum of four inches wide.
(2) 
All fire lanes shall be striped at a width of four feet, as specified by the Fire Official.
(3) 
The lettering "NO PARKING OR STANDING FIRE ZONE" shall be placed within the striped outer boundary lines of the fire zone at a minimum of one-hundred-foot intervals.
(4) 
The letters shall be a minimum of 18 inches in height and shall be placed within the center of the fire zone.
(5) 
Paint for all letters and striping shall be yellow in color.
C. 
Maintenance of signs and striping. Property owners are responsible for the maintenance of all fire lane/zone signs and striping. Signs and striping will be repaired or repainted, as needed, at the owner's expense, to effectively designate the fire lane/zone.
[Amended 9-14-2011 by Ord. No. 3304]
Violations and penalties shall be assessed in accordance with § 1-15 of the Ridgewood Village Code, or at the discretion of the Fire Official, in accordance with N.J.A.C. 5:70-3, 503.4, Uniform Fire Safety Act. In no event shall the minimum fine for any single violation be less than $75.