A certain document, three copies of which are on file in the office of the Township Clerk of the Township of Old Bridge, being marked and designated as the "International Property Maintenance Code," 2006 edition, as published by the International Code Council, be and is hereby adopted as the Property Maintenance Code of the Township of Old Bridge, County of Middlesex and State of New Jersey, for regulating and governing the conditions and maintenance of all property, buildings and structures; by providing the standard for supplied utilities and facilities and other physical things and conditions essential to ensure that structures are safe, sanitary and fit for occupation and use; and the condemnation of such existing structures as herein provided; providing for the issuance of permits and collection of fees therefor; and each and all of the regulations, provisions, penalties, conditions and terms of said Property Maintenance Code on file in the office of the Township Clerk are hereby referred to, adopted, and made a part hereof, as if fully set out in this chapter, with the additions, insertions, deletions and changes, if any, prescribed in §
366-2 of this chapter.
The following sections of the International Property Maintenance
Code are hereby revised as follows:
A. Section 101.1, insert: Township of Old Bridge.
B. Section 102.3, amend to read: Repairs, additions or alterations to
a structure, or changes of occupancy, shall be done in accordance
with the current codes as adopted by the State of New Jersey, N.J.A.C.
5:23 et seq.
C. Section 103.1, amend to read: The Department of Property Maintenance
Inspection is hereby created, and the executive official in charge
thereof shall be known as the "Construction Official, Director of
Code Enforcement," for the Township of Old Bridge. All references
within the IPM Code to "Code Official" shall mean "Construction Official,
Director of Code Enforcement."
D. Section 103.5, insert: The fee schedule will be available in the
Code Enforcement Office.
E. Section 106.4, add to section: In addition, any person who shall violate a provision of this code shall also, upon conviction thereof, be subject to the penalties as set forth in Chapter
1, Art.
II, Penalty, of the Code of the Township of Old Bridge.
F. Section 108.2, add to section: The closing of any vacant structure
shall not occur until a complete premises search has been conducted
by the Township of Old Bridge Police Department so that all public
life, health, safety concerns can be addressed as appropriate.
G. Section 111.1, add to section: The nonrefundable fee for filing an
appeal shall be $100 per violation appealed.
H. Section 111.2.5, amend to read: Members shall serve without compensation.
I. Section 302.4, insert: 10 inches.
J. Section 304.14, insert dates in both locations: April 1 to November
1.
K. Section 602.3, insert dates in both locations: October 1 to May 1.
L. Section 602.4, insert dates in both locations: October 1 to May 1.
The Construction Code Official, Zoning Officer or other designated
officer is authorized to notify, in writing, by mailing by certified
mail, return receipt requested, and regular mail or hand delivering
to the owner, or person or entity in control of the subject premises
or the agent of the owner, person in control or entity advising him
or the entity of the particular violation. In the event the property
is in foreclosure, notice may also be sent to the mortgagee in the
manner set forth herein. If the notice is returned showing the letter
was not delivered, a copy thereof shall be posted in a conspicuous
place in or about the structure affected by such notice. The person
or entity shall have 20 days from the date of receipt of the notice
to cure the violation. Said notice shall be deemed to serve as a continuing
notice for the remainder of the violation on the subject property
in accordance with the provisions of this chapter.
In the event that the person or entity owning said land shall
refuse or neglect to abate or remedy the condition complained of and
which constituted a violation of this chapter, after said 20 days'
notice, the Business Administrator or his designee shall cause the
condition complained of to be abated and remedied.
If the owner, entity or person in possession of the dwelling
or lands in question shall fail to abate the condition complained
of within the time period specified after receipt of notice, the Code
Enforcement Official or his designee shall cause the condition complained
of to be abated, either by action of the Department of Public Works
or by engagement of an outside contractor, and shall present a report
of the work accomplished to the Township Council, along with a summary
of the abatement undertaken to secure compliance. He or she shall
certify the actual labor costs of same plus 25%, but not less than
administrative fee of $100, to the Township Council, which shall examine
the report and certificate and, if it is correct, cause the cost as
shown thereon to be charged against the dwelling or lands. A copy
of the resolution approving the expenses shall be certified by the
Township Clerk and filed with the Tax Collector, who shall be responsible
for the collection thereof. The amount so charged shall forthwith
become a lien upon the dwelling or lands and shall be added to and
become and form part of the taxes next assessed and levied upon such
dwelling and lands, shall bear interest at the same rate as the taxes,
and shall be collected and enforced by the same officer and in the
same manner as taxes. Costs shall be in addition to any penalties
imposed for any violation of this chapter.
Three copies of the International Property Maintenance Code,
2006 edition, have been placed on file in the office of the Township
Clerk and will remain there for the use and examination of the public.