[HISTORY: Adopted by the governing body of the Township of Little Falls 12-18-1995 by Ord. No. 753 as Sec. 4-11 of the 1995 Revised General Ordinances. Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
General penalty — See Ch. 1, Art. I.
Licensing — See Ch. 122.
Noise — See Ch. 136.
It shall be unlawful for any person hereinafter referred to as "operator" to maintain in the Township a self-service laundry without having first obtained a license.
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
SELF-SERVICE LAUNDRY
Any place of business operated for the purpose of washing or drying clothes or other washable materials where the work is done by the customers themselves in machines located on the premises, whether coin-operated or otherwise. It shall include such establishments as launderettes, laundromats, washomats, and others with a similar name.
[Amended 12-20-2004 by Ord. No. 952; 12-22-2008 by Ord. No. 1060]
Prior to commencing operation of a self-service laundry, the operator shall make application for the issuance of a license. The application shall be accompanied by a fee as set forth in Chapter 71, Fees.
[Amended 12-20-2004 by Ord. No. 952]
The application shall be considered by the governing body and shall be issued if and when the governing body is satisfied that the applicant complies with the regulations set forth in this chapter.
In addition to conforming to all health ordinances and regulations of general application, all self-service laundries shall be operated in accordance with the following regulations:
A. 
The entire premises devoted to the operation of the laundry, including all machines used in connection with it, shall be kept in a clean and sanitary condition at all times. The walls and floor shall be covered with some easily cleaned, impervious material and shall be kept clean and dry. The premises shall be adequately lighted and ventilated.
B. 
No machinery used in connection with a self-service laundry shall be operated in such a manner as to cause any unreasonable noise or vibration.
C. 
No equipment using exhaust or other circulation systems shall have vents or openings constructed or located so as to permit heat, lint, gas, fumes or other material to be directed upon neighboring properties.
D. 
All parts of the premises to which the public has access shall be clearly visible from the street.
E. 
The owner or operator of the premises shall be responsible for maintaining good order among the patrons and shall be responsible for any disorder which may result from the lack of a supervising attendant upon the premises during hours of operation.
F. 
All articles of clothing containing bodily excrement or discharges shall be as quickly as possible placed in machines designated for that purpose. These machines shall be conspicuously marked and shall not be used for any other purpose.
G. 
All premises shall be constructed with gutters in front and/or behind the machines leading to drain takes of sufficient size to contain the flow of water in the event of connection breaks or machine breakdown.
H. 
No self-service laundry shall be open for business between the hours 12:00 midnight and 7:00 a.m., but machines started before 12:00 midnight need not be stopped until the operation is completed, provided that a self-service laundry may remain open between the hours of 12:00 midnight and 7:00 a.m. if an attendant is on continuous duty during these hours.
I. 
Where an attendant is not on continuous duty, there shall be conspicuously posted a telephone number where notice may be given in the event of machine breakdown or some other emergency.
J. 
Machines which break down shall either be repaired or removed from the premises as quickly as possible.
K. 
These regulations shall be posted in a conspicuous place upon the premises of each laundry.
Licenses shall be issued for a term ending December 31 of the initial license year and renewable annually thereafter.
Any person violating the provisions of this article shall, upon conviction, be liable to the penalty stated in Chapter 1, General Provisions, Article I.