[Adopted 7-22-1985 by Ord. No. 1287]
A. 
Pursuant to Section 11 of the Uniform Fire Safety Act (P.L. 1983, c. 383),[1], the New Jersey Uniform Fire Code shall be locally enforced in the Municipality of Ridgefield.
[1]
Editor's Note: See N.J.S.A. 52:27D-192 et seq.
B. 
The local enforcing agency shall be the Bureau of Fire Prevention, within the Borough of Ridgefield.
[Amended 7-14-2008 by Ord. No. 2056]
[Amended 2-8-1993 by Ord. No. 1487; 7-14-2008 by Ord. No. 2056]
A. 
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 Ridgefield, other than owner-occupied one- and two-family dwellings, and federal, state and county owned buildings, 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.
The local enforcing agency established by § 190-16B 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 Community Affairs.
[Amended 1-26-1998 by Ord. No. 1613; 7-14-2008 by Ord. No. 2056]
The local enforcing agency established by § 190-16B of this article shall be the Ridgefield Fire Prevention Bureau but shall be under the direct supervision and control of the Mayor and Council of the Borough of Ridgefield.
[Amended 12-27-1988 by Ord. No. 1366; 7-14-2008 by Ord. No. 2056]
A. 
The local enforcing agency shall be under the supervision of a Fire Official, who shall be appointed by the Mayor and Council of the Borough of Ridgefield.
B. 
Term of office. The Fire Official shall serve for a term of five years. Any vacancy for the unexpired term shall be filled by the Mayor and Council.
C. 
A Fire Official who has successfully completed a full five-year term may, by resolution of the Mayor and Council, be given tenure of office; on condition, however, that the Fire Official must continue to maintain all appropriate licenses and certifications. After receiving tenure, the Fire Official may only be removed from office for cause.
[Added 9-8-2014 by Ord. No. 2262]
A. 
Such inspectors and other employees as may be necessary in the local enforcing agency shall be appointed by the Mayor and Council of the Borough of Ridgefield.
B. 
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 Mayor and Council or a hearing officer designated by the Mayor and Council. Either the Mayor and Council or the hearing officer shall have the authority to reinstate an inspector or other employee of the enforcing agency removed by the Fire Official if, in his or its judgment, the facts and circumstances warrant reinstatement.
[Amended 7-14-2008 by Ord. No. 2056]
Pursuant to Sections 15 and 17 of the Uniform Fire Safety Act,[1] any person aggrieved by any order of the local enforcement agency shall have the right to appeal to the Construction Board of Appeals of Bergen County.
[1]
Editor's Note: See N.J.S.A. 52:27D-206 and 52:27D-208.
In addition to the inspection and fees required pursuant to the Act and the regulations of the Department of Community Affairs, the following additional inspections and fees shall be required.
[Amended 4-29-1991 by Ord. No. 1431; 7-14-2008 by Ord. No. 2056]
The permit fees established by the Uniform Fire Code shall be amended to be as follows:
Type
Fee
1
$42
2
$166
3
$331
4
$497
5
(Reserved)
Technical amendments to the code must go beyond the minimum established by the code. The specific paragraphs in the code to be changed must be reproduced and the language to be changed must be shown in brackets and the correct language to be inserted in the section must be clearly underlined.
[Added 6-22-1987 by Ord. No. 1330; amended 1-22-1990 by Ord. No. 1392; 4-29-1991 by Ord. No. 1431; 7-14-2008 by Ord. No. 2056; 5-28-2013 by Ord. No. 2228; 5-16-2018 by Ord. No. 2342]
A. 
Residential structures:
(1) 
One to two dwelling units, non-owner-occupied: $60.
(2) 
Three dwelling units: $100.
(3) 
Four to 10 dwelling units: $125.
(4) 
Eleven to 20 dwelling units: $150.
(5) 
Twenty-one to 30 dwelling units: $175.
(6) 
Thirty-one to 50 dwelling units: $225.
(7) 
Fifty-one and more dwelling units: $300, plus $50 for every 10 units above 51.
B. 
Commercial premises:
(1) 
All businesses of Use Group B and S2 of greater than 75,000 square feet: $1,200.
(2) 
All businesses of Use Group B and S2 which are greater than 50,000 square feet but less than 75,000 square feet: $1,000.
(3) 
All businesses of Use Group B and S2 which are greater than 25,000 square feet but less than 50,000 square feet: $900.
(4) 
All businesses of Use Group B and S2 which are greater than 12,000 square feet but less than 25,000 square feet: $800.
(5) 
All businesses of Use Groups B, S1, S2, F1, F2, M and I which are greater than 8,000 square feet but less than 12,000 square feet: $500.
(6) 
All businesses of Use Groups B, S1, S2, F1, F2, M and I which are greater than 5,000 square feet but less than 8,000 square feet: $350.
(7) 
All businesses of Use Groups B, S1, S2, F1, F2, M and I which are greater than 2,500 square feet but less than 5,000 square feet: $175.
(8) 
All businesses of Use Groups B, S1, S2, F1, F2, M and I which are greater than 400 square feet but less than 2,500 square feet: $60.
(9) 
All businesses of Use Groups B, S1, S2, F1, F2, M and I which are less than 400 square feet: $50.
[Added 6-22-1987 by Ord. No. 1330]
All inspection fees must be paid within 30 days from the date they are issued. Failure to pay the required fees will cause the fees to be doubled.
[Added 6-22-1987 by Ord. No. 1330]
All nonprofit corporations, including churches, schools, fraternal organizations and other organizations which are classified as nonprofit corporations under Title 15A of the New Jersey Nonprofit Act shall not be required to pay the Borough of Ridgefield any of the inspection fees set forth in this Article. This exemption shall only extend to inspection fees and the activities of the nonprofit corporations; however, it does not apply to private functions, in which case the nonprofit corporation shall not be exempt from any other aspects of the Fire Code, including registration and compliance.
[Added 6-22-1987 by Ord. No. 1330]
All owner-occupied one- and two-family dwellings do not require annual inspections except for complaints pertaining to fire hazards. The fee for inspecting fire hazard complaints shall be $25.