[Adopted 10-4-2001 by Ord. No. 31-2001]
A.Â
Certificates of occupancy shall be required for human
habitation of all existing dwelling units in the Township of Washington
before a change in occupancy of any unit may be effected.
B.Â
Certificates of occupancy shall be required for human
habitation on all rental property in the Township of Washington before
a change of occupancy of any unit may be effected. In addition thereto,
the owner of each rental unit is required to have said rental unit
inspected on a yearly basis by the Housing Inspector of the Township
of Washington. Failure of the inspection shall result in a loss of
the certificate of occupancy for said unit.
The certificate of occupancy required herein
does not repeal or amend requirements for other certificates of occupancy
heretofore provided for by ordinances of this municipality or statutes
of the State of New Jersey.
A.Â
An application for a certificate of occupancy for
change in occupancy shall be made to the Construction Official of
the Township of Washington on a form provided by said Construction
Official.
B.Â
An application for inspection must be completely filled
out and submitted to the Housing Inspector.
C.Â
The Housing Inspector shall thereupon cause an inspection
to be made of the subject dwelling unit to determine if such unit
is fit for human habitation and in compliance with all applicable
Township ordinances and laws of the State of New Jersey related to
maintenance, safety and health.
In addition to the requirements for a certificate
of occupancy hereinabove set forth, it shall also be required that
each such dwelling unit have installed therein a minimum of one approved,
listed and labeled smoke detector on each floor sending visible or
invisible particles of combustion, installed in a manner and location
consistent with its listing. When activated, the detector shall provide
an alarm suitable to warn the occupants within the building.
The owner of each dwelling unit, subject to this article, is hereby charged with the responsibility for making written application to the Housing Inspector or his representative for a certificate of occupancy. In the event that a change of occupancy is also accompanied by a change of ownership of a dwelling unit, the buyer of such dwelling unit may waive the seller's responsibility and assume the same; provided, however, that such waiver shall be in writing, which waiver shall further state that the buyer is fully aware that he, she or it is assuming full responsibility for obtaining a certificate of occupancy pursuant to this article; and provided further that the buyer shall obtain a temporary certificate of occupancy for the purpose of making such repairs as are deemed necessary by the Housing Inspector to make the dwelling habitable. The duration of the provisional certificate of occupancy shall be 90 days after which the provisions of § 179-75, Violations and penalties, shall apply.
A.Â
Application to the Housing Inspector or his representative shall be accompanied by a fee as set forth in Chapter 80, Fees.
B.Â
The Housing Inspector or his/her representative shall, within 10 working days of the receipt of the fully completed application for a certificate of occupancy and the accompanying fee pursuant to this article, make such inspections as are required hereinabove and, upon determining that the requirements of § 179-72 above have been complied with, issue a certificate of occupancy.
C.Â
If, upon the inspection or reinspection aforesaid,
the Housing Inspector or his representative finds the subject dwelling
unit is not in compliance, said official or his representative shall
thereupon, and within said 10 working days, notify the applicant,
in writing, of such noncompliance, specifically setting forth the
violation or violations which require corrections.
D.Â
Upon correction of the violations, the applicant shall
notify the Housing Inspector, in writing, whereupon the Housing Inspector,
or his representative, shall reinspect the subject dwelling within
five working days of receipt of such notification. This procedure
shall be followed until all violations have been corrected, at which
time a certificate of occupancy shall be issued.
[Amended 10-25-2007 by Ord. No. 40-2007]