The provisions of this code shall constitute
standards to guide the public officer or his agents in determining
the fitness of an area or premises in the Township used or intended
to be used, or designed to be used in whole or part, for commercial,
business, industrial or any other nonresidential occupancy, to provide
standards to hereby maintain the desirability and amenities of the
premises and neighborhood and to provide standards for the protection
of the health, safety and welfare of the community at large. The officer
or his agent is to enforce such standards with scrutiny to not only
the interior but also the exterior of the premises, any and all areas
exposed to public view, with the aim of preventing and ordering the
prevention of unsightly deterioration and dilapidation. Standards
are to be applicable to any and all premises, whether or not any such
premises shall have been constructed, altered or repaired before or
after the enactment of this code. If the provisions of this code impose
a lesser or higher standard than another ordinance of the Township,
or law of the county, state or federal governing bodies, then the
higher standard shall prevail. Compliance with this code shall not
constitute a defense against violations of any of the aforementioned
Township, county, state or federal regulations nor reliance by any
official of any such body from enforcing any such provision.
The words, terms or phrases listed below for
the purpose of this code shall be defined and interpreted as follows:
ADMINISTRATIVE AUTHORITY
The department, branch or agency of this municipality which
is authorized by the adopting ordinance to administer the provisions
of this code.
BUILDING
Any building or structure, or part thereof, used for human
habitation or nonresidential commercial use or occupancy and includes
any accessory buildings and appurtenances belonging thereto or usually
enjoyed therewith.
DETERIORATION
The condition of a building or part thereof, characterized
by holes, breaks, rot, crumbling, cracking, peeling, rusting or other
evidence of physical decay, neglect, lack of maintenance or excessive
wear.
EXTERIOR OF THE PREMISES
Shall include:
A.
Any part of the premises not occupied by any
building thereon;
B.
Any open space on the outside of any building;
or
C.
Any part of any building which is exposed to
the elements.
GARBAGE
Any organic or inorganic waste or residue not maintained
for business purposes.
INFESTATIONS
The presence within or around a building or upon an open
lot of any insects, rodents or other pests.
OCCUPANT
Any person or persons in actual possession commercially using
and/or living in the buildings, including the owner.
OWNER
Any person properly authorized to exercise powers of or for
any owner of property for purposes of its purchase, sale, use, occupancy
or maintenance.
PERSON
The same meaning as defined in N.J.S.A. 1:1-2.
PUBLIC OFFICER
The officer or officers who shall by the nature of their
duties be responsible for inspection and enforcement.
RUBBISH
Includes all combustible and noncombustible waste material,
except garbage.
Every building shall have safe and unobstructed
means of egress. Such means of egress shall not be through any other
building or unit or part thereof and shall lead to a safe and open
space at ground level accessible to a street.
The Construction Official, in the discharge
of his official duties and upon proper identification, shall have
authority to enter any building, structure or premises at any reasonable
hour.
No officer, agent or employee of the Township,
including the Construction Official, shall render himself personally
liable for any damage that may accrue to persons or property as the
result of any acts required or permitted in the discharge of his duties
under this article. Any suit brought against the Construction Official,
his designated agent or any other officer, agent or employee of the
Township as the result of any act required or permitted in the discharge
of his duties under this article shall be defended by the Township
Attorney until the final determination of the proceedings therein.
The general and specific provisions of Article
IV, Unsafe Buildings, of this chapter are hereby fully repeated, adopted and incorporated in total.
The Township Committee shall establish and set
fees for the required inspections.