[Adopted 8-9-1985 by Ord. No. 85-17]
[1]
Editor's Note: All references to the Uniform Fire Safety Code were amended to read “Uniform Fire Code” 2-5-2004 by Ord. No. 2004-01.
[Amended 2-5-2004 by Ord. No. 2004-01]
The Uniform Fire Code shall be locally enforced in the Borough of Berlin.
[Amended 2-6-1987 by Ord. No. 87-1; 2-5-2004 by Ord. No. 2004-01]
The local enforcing agency shall be the Bureau of Fire Prevention of the Borough of Berlin.
[Amended 2-5-2004 by Ord. No. 2004-01; 10-6-2014 by Ord. No. 2014-15]
The local enforcement agency shall enforce the Uniform Fire Safety Act,[1] and the codes and regulations adopted under it, in all buildings, structures and premises within the established boundaries of the Borough of Berlin, and all inspections required pursuant to Chapter 256 of the Code of the Borough of Berlin, other than owner-occupied one- and two- family dwellings, and shall faithfully comply with the requirements of the Uniform Fire Safety Act and the Uniform Fire Code.
[1]
Editor's Note: See N.J.S.A. 52:27D-192 et seq.
[Amended 2-5-2004 by Ord. No. 2004-01]
The local enforcing agency established by § 162-10 of this article shall carry out the periodic inspections of life hazard uses required by the Uniform Fire Code on behalf of the Commissioner of the Department of Community Affairs.
[Amended 2-6-1987 by Ord. No. 87-1; 2-5-2004 by Ord. No. 2004-01]
The local enforcing agency established by § 162-10 of this article shall be a part of the Borough of Berlin and shall be under the direct supervision and control of the Fire Official, who shall report to the Department of Public Safety.
A. 
Fire Official.
[Amended 2-6-1987 by Ord. No. 87-1; 2-5-2004 by Ord. No. 2004-01]
(1) 
Appointment of Fire Official. The local enforcing agency established pursuant to §162-10 of this article shall be under the supervision of a Fire Official, who shall be certified by the state and appointed by the governing body of the Borough of Berlin.
(2) 
Term of office. The Fire Official shall serve for a term of three years. Any vacancy shall be filled for the unexpired term. The Fire Official shall be removed from office during the term of appointment only for good cause shown and only after having been offered a hearing upon any charges before the governing body.
B. 
Inspectors and employees. The governing body upon the recommendation of the Fire Official shall appoint such inspectors and employees as may be necessary in the local enforcing agency. Inspectors shall be certified by the state.
[Amended 2-5-2004 by Ord. No. 2004-01]
C. 
Removal from office. Inspectors and other employees of the enforcing agency shall be subject to removal by the Fire Official for inefficiency or misconduct. Each inspector or employee to be so removed shall be afforded an opportunity to be heard by the governing body or a designated hearing officer. The governing body, or designated hearing officer, shall have the authority to modify, in whole or in part, the decision of the Fire Official.
Pursuant to Sections 15 and 17 of the Uniform Fire Safety Act,[1] any person aggrieved by an order of the local enforcement agency shall have the right to appeal to the Construction Board of Appeals of Camden County.
[1]
Editor's Note: See N.J.S.A. 52:27D-206 and 55:27D-208.
[Amended 12-19-1994 by Ord. No. 94-27; 8-28-2002 by Ord. No. 2002:15]
A. 
The following includes buildings with dwelling units not listed as life hazard by the New Jersey Uniform Fire Code, except one- or two-family owner/occupied units.
[Amended 2-5-2004 by Ord. No. 2004-01; 10-15-2015 by Ord. No. 2015-20]
Unit Size
Fee
1 to 3 units
$75.00
4 to 10 units
$100.00
11 to 20 units
$150.00
21 to 40 units
$200.00
Each additional 20 units or less
$50.00
B. 
Non-life-hazard use. Non-life-hazard use groups include all buildings not listed as life hazard uses by the New Jersey Uniform Fire Code. Non-life-hazard uses shall be inspected at least once every two years.
[Amended 2-5-2004 by Ord. No. 2004-01; 10-15-2015 by Ord. No. 2015-20]
Building Type
Fee
Buildings with or without attached dwelling units, not in excess of 1,000 square feet
$50.00
Buildings with or without attached dwelling units in excess of 1,000 square feet, not exceeding 3,000 square feet
$75.00
Buildings in excess of 3,000 square feet, not exceeding 9,000 square feet
$100.00
Buildings in excess of 9,000 square feet, not exceeding 15,000 square feet
$200.00
Buildings in excess of 15,000 square feet, not exceeding 50,000 square feet
$250.00
Buildings in excess of 50,000 square feet, not exceeding 100,000 square feet
$300.00
Buildings in excess of 100,000 square feet, not exceeding 200,000 square feet
$600.00
Buildings in excess of 200,000 square feet, not exceeding 300,000 square feet
$800.00
Additional 100,000 square feet or part thereof
$300.00
Note:
Each floor or story shall be calculated as a separate area for total building calculation.
C. 
Certificate of Fire Code status.
(1) 
Any structure requiring inspection not covered under either the life hazard fee schedule or the non-life-hazard fee schedule: $50.
[Amended 10-15-2015 by Ord. No. 2015-20]
(2) 
The following building or structure, if classified as non-life-hazard, although not exempt from registration or inspection, will be exempt from paying an inspection fee as pursuant to the act:
(a) 
Municipal-owned buildings.
(b) 
Fire stations.
(c) 
EMS stations.
(d) 
Houses of worship (excluding rooms for public assembly, i.e., meeting halls, social halls, rental halls).
D. 
CSDCMAC inspections.
[Amended 2-5-2004 by Ord. No. 2004-01]
(1) 
Certificate of smoke detector and carbon monoxide alarm compliance (CSDCMAC). CSDCMAC inspections shall be conducted in accordance with the New Jersey Uniform Fire Code.
(2) 
The application fee for a CSDCMAC shall be as set forth at N.J.A.C. 5:70-2.9(d) pursuant to state regulations.
E. 
Fire and safety permits. The application fee for a permit shall be as set forth at N.J.A.C. 5:70-2.7(c) pursuant to state regulations.
[Amended 2-5-2004 by Ord. No. 2004-01]
F. 
Fire report. Fee established for copies of Fire Marshal investigation reports to insurance companies/owners or occupants: $35.
[Added 2-5-2004 by Ord. No. 2004-01]
Violations and penalties. Any person violating any of the provisions of this article shall be subject to fines and penalties as set forth in the Uniform Fire Safety Act, the Uniform Fire Code and all other laws of the State of New Jersey.