Pursuant to Section 11 of the Uniform Fire Safety Act (P.L. 1983, c. 383; N.J.S.A. 52:27D-192 et seq.), the New Jersey Uniform Fire Code shall be locally enforced in the Borough of Norwood.
The local enforcing agency shall be the Bureau of Fire Prevention, which is hereby created in the Borough of Norwood.
The Norwood Fire Prevention Bureau shall enforce the Uniform Fire Safety Act and the codes and regulations adopted under it in all buildings, structures and premises within the geographical boundaries of the Borough of Norwood, other than owner-occupied one- and two-family dwellings (unless so invited by the owner), and shall faithfully comply with the requirements of the Uniform Fire Safety Act and the Uniform Fire Code.
The local enforcing agency established by § 127-2 shall carry out the periodic inspections of life-hazard uses required by the Uniform Fire Code on behalf of the Commissioner of Community Affairs.
A. 
The local enforcing agency established by § 127-2 of this article shall be under the supervision of the Fire Official of the Bureau of Fire Prevention.
B. 
A report of the Fire Prevention Bureau shall be made annually and transmitted to the Mayor and Council by the Fire Official.
[Added 11-5-2003 by Ord. No. 03:12]
A. 
Appointment of Fire Official. The Norwood Fire Prevention Bureau shall be under the direct supervision of the Fire Official pursuant to the Uniform Fire Safety Act (P.L. 1983, c. 383; N.J.S.A. 52:27D-192 et seq.).
[Amended 11-5-2003 by Ord. No. 03:12]
B. 
Term of office. The Fire Official shall serve for a term of two years. Any vacancy shall be filled for the unexpired term.
[Amended 11-5-2003 by Ord. No. 03:12]
C. 
Inspectors and employees. Such inspectors and employees as may be necessary in the local enforcing agency shall be appointed by the Mayor and Council upon recommendation of the Fire Official.
D. 
Removal from office. The Mayor and Council may remove the Fire Official and any inspectors and other employees for inefficiency, misconduct or other just cause. The Fire Official and each inspector or employee so removed shall be afforded an opportunity to be heard by the Mayor and Council.
Pursuant to Sections 15 and 17 of the Uniform Fire Safety Act (N.J.S.A. 52:27D-206 and 52:27D-208), any person aggrieved by any order of the local enforcement agency shall have the right to appeal to the Construction Board of Appeals of the County of Bergen.
A. 
Inspections. In addition to the inspections required pursuant to the Uniform Fire Safety Act and the regulations adopted thereunder, all buildings, structures and uses within the Borough of Norwood, except for owner-occupied one- and two-family dwelling units and dwelling units within two-family and multifamily dwellings, shall be inspected for compliance with the Uniform Fire Code not less than once per year.
B. 
Fees. The Bureau of Fire Prevention shall impose and collect those fees required to be charged pursuant to the Uniform Fire Safety Act and the regulations adopted thereunder (N.J.A.C. 5:18-2.9).[1] The fees to be charged for those inspections conducted pursuant to Subsection A of this section shall be as provided in N.J.A.C. 5:18-2.9, as amended from time to time, and shall be paid on an annual basis within 60 days of notification, with a late charge penalty of one half the original fee.
[1]
Editor's Note: Pursuant to Reorganization Plan No. 002-1998, Chapter 18, Uniform Fire Code, was recodified as N.J.A.C. 5:70, effective July 1, 1998.
C. 
Additional fees.
[Added 5-2-2000 by Ord. No. 00:04; amended 11-5-2003 by Ord. No. 03:12]
Type of Use
Fee
Class A: up to 2,000 square feet
$ 45.00
Class B: 2,001 to 5,000 square feet
$ 75.00
Class C: 5,001 to 10,000 square feet
$150.00
Class D: more than 10,001 square feet
$200.00
Class E: multifamily units
$25.00 per dwelling unit (minimum charge $50.00)
(1) 
All life-hazard uses as registered by the State of New Jersey are exempted from the additional fees.
A. 
In accordance with N.J.S.A. 52:27D-198.1, a structure used or intended for use for residential purposes by not more than two households shall have a smoke-sensitive alarm device on each level of the structure and outside each separate sleeping area in the immediate vicinity of the bedrooms and located on or near the ceiling in accordance with National Fire Protection Association Standards No. 74-1984 for the installation, maintenance and use of household fire-warning equipment. The installation of battery-operated smoke-sensitive alarm devices shall be accepted as meeting the requirements of this section. The smoke-sensitive device shall be tested and listed by a product certification agency recognized by the Bureau of Fire Safety.
B. 
Smoke detectors as required by N.J.S.A. 52:27D-198.1 shall be required in all buildings of mixed use where residential use is included. The regulations for maintenance of hotels and multiple-family dwellings concerning smoke alarms is hereby incorporated by reference to determine the type of equipment and placement requirements.
A. 
In the case of change of occupancy of any building subject to the requirements of § 127-9 of this chapter, no owner shall sell, lease or otherwise permit occupancy for residential purposes of that building without first obtaining from the Norwood Fire Prevention Bureau a certificate evidencing compliance with the requirements of this chapter and N.J.S.A. 52:27D-198.1 and 52:27D-198.2.
B. 
The fee will be based on when the application is received:
[Amended 11-5-2003 by Ord. No. 03:12]
(1) 
More than 10 business days prior to change of occupant: $50.
(2) 
Four to 10 business days prior to change of occupant: $100.
(3) 
Less than four business days prior to change of occupant: $150.
C. 
Smoke detectors, that are required to obtain a certificate of compliance, may be purchased and installed by the Fire Official at a fee of $40 per smoke detector.
[Added 3-6-2001 by Ord. No. 01:04; amended 11-5-2003 by Ord. No. 03:12]
An owner who sells, leases, rents or otherwise permits to be occupied for residential purposes any premises subject to the provisions of § 127-9 of this chapter when the premises do not comply with the inspection and certification requirements of § 127-10 shall be subject to a fine of not more than $500 which may be collected and enforced by the Norwood Fire Prevention Bureau by summary proceedings pursuant to "The Penalty Enforcement Law," N.J.S.A. 2A:58-1 et seq.