The Burlington County Health Department be and is hereby designated
as the enforcement officer to exercise the powers prescribed by the within
chapter, and they shall serve in such capacity without any additional salary.
Pursuant to the provisions of Chapter
21, P.L. 1946 (N.J.S.A. 40:49-5.1 et seq.), the New Jersey State Housing Code (1980 Revision), as approved by the Department of Community Affairs and filed in the Secretary of State's Office, is hereby accepted, adopted and established as a standard to be used as a guide in determining whether dwellings in this municipality are safe, sanitary and fit for human habitation and rental. A copy of the New Jersey State Housing Code (1980 Revision) is annexed to this chapter and three copies of the same have been placed on file in the office of the Westampton Township Clerk and are available to all persons desiring to use and examine the same.
The enforcement officer is hereby authorized and directed to make inspections
to determine the condition of dwellings, dwelling units, rooming units, and
premises located within the Township of Westampton in order that they may
perform their duty of safeguarding the health and safety of the occupants
of dwellings and of the general public. For the purpose of making such inspections,
the enforcement officer is hereby authorized to enter, examine and survey,
at all reasonable times, all dwellings, dwelling units, rooming units and
premises. The owner or occupant of every dwelling, dwelling unit, rooming
unit, or the person in charge thereof, shall give the enforcement officer
free access to such dwelling, dwelling unit, or rooming unit and its premises
at all reasonable times for the purpose of such inspection, examination and
survey. Every occupant of a dwelling or dwelling unit shall give the owner
thereof, or his agent or employee, access to any part of such dwelling or
dwelling unit, or its premises, at all reasonable times, for the purpose of
making such repairs or alterations as are necessary to effect compliance with
the provisions of this chapter, or with any lawful rule or regulation adopted,
or any lawful order issued pursuant to the provisions of this chapter.
The Township Committee is hereby authorized and empowered to make and
adopt such written rules and regulations as they may deem necessary for the
proper enforcement of the provisions of this chapter; provided, however, that
such rules and regulations shall not be in conflict with the provisions of
this chapter, nor in any way alter, amend, or supersede any of the provisions
thereof. The Township Committee shall file a certified copy of all rules and
regulations, which they may adopt, in their office and in the office of the
Clerk of the Township of Westampton.
No person shall occupy as owner, occupant, or rent to another for occupancy
any dwelling or dwelling unit for the purpose of living therein which does
not conform to the provisions of the New Jersey State Housing Code (1980 Revision),
established hereby as the standard to be used in determining whether a dwelling
is safe, sanitary and fit for human habitation.
Any person, firm or corporation who shall violate any of the provisions
of this chapter shall, upon conviction, be punished by a fine not to exceed
$500 or by imprisonment in the county jail for such period of time not to
exceed 90 days or by both such fine and imprisonment, and each violation of
any of the provisions of this chapter and each day the same is violated shall
be deemed and taken to be a separate and distinct offense.