This chapter is designed to provide protection to township residents
who require the services of a home improvement contractor. It will help to
ensure that these contractors are qualified to do the work, possess adequate
insurance and perform their services in a professional manner. In addition,
it provides a mechanism whereby building contractors that are found to be
unscrupulous or unprofessional can be denied the privilege of performing their
service in the township.
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings
indicated:
HOME IMPROVEMENT CONTRACTORS
Any person(s) who construct, demolish, repair, replace, remodel,
alter, convert, rehabilitate, renovate, modernize, improve or add to any land
or building, or that portion which is used or designed for use as a residence
or dwelling place. It shall include but not be limited to the construction
of swimming pools, driveways, terraces, patios, porches, garages, gazebos,
basements, decks, windows, doors, cabinets, closets, kitchens, bathrooms,
fire protection devices, alarm systems, water softeners, heaters, purifiers,
solar heating or heat sinks, aluminum and vinyl siding, underground sprinkler
systems, carpentry, masonry, roofing and other improvements to structures
or upon land that is adjacent to a residence.
Individuals, firms, partnerships, corporations, contractors and subcontractors
required to be registered by the State of New Jersey pursuant to the New Home
Warranty and Builders Registration Act, N.J.S.A. 46:3B-1 et seq., shall not
be required to be registered under the provisions of this chapter to engage
in the construction of new homes. Electricians and plumbers who are licensed
by the State of New Jersey are also exempted from registration when performing
work permitted by their license.
Application for registration shall be accomplished by completing the
home improvement contractor registration form and filing it along with a copy
of the contractor's insurance certificate for liability coverage and
the fee with the Department of Inspections. The application shall supply the
following:
A. Registration fee. An annual fee of $25 shall be filed
with the initial application or application renewal.
B. Insurance certificate. This insurance shall provide liability
coverage for property and completed operations and bodily injury to third
parties of at least $500,000. A valid insurance certificate must be maintained
at all times for the registration to be valid.
C. Application information.
(1) Name and address of applicant. If the applicant is a
partnership, the names and addresses of all partners; if a corporation, the
names and addresses of all officers, directors and persons holding 10% or
more of the issued outstanding stock.
(2) The type of work customarily performed by the applicant.
(3) A statement as to whether the applicant or any person named in Subsection
C(1) of this section has ever been cited for violating any building code, and if so, the date and the subject of the citation, the nature of the citation and the penalty imposed.
(4) Names of the last three townships where work requiring
a building permit was performed.
The Enforcement agent for the purposes of this chapter shall be the
Township Construction Official or his/her designee.
Violations and penalties shall be as follows:
A. First violation: issue a stop-work order until a valid
insurance certificate is presented to the Enforcement Agent.
B. Second violation within 12 months: Issue a stop-work
order and a fine of $100.
C. Third violation within 12 months: a fine of $100 for
each day work proceeds without a valid insurance certificate.
Any complaints filed against the applicant shall contain the name of
the applicant, date of occurrence, a description of the complaint, name and
address of the person filing the complaint and the signature of the person(s)
filing the complaint. Complaints shall be held on file with the registration
for a period of five years and may be used in consideration of renewal or
revocation while they are on file.