This Part
13 shall be known as the "Property Maintenance Code of the Borough of Ridgefield" and may be referred to in this Part
13 in the short form as "this code."
It is hereby found and declared that there exist
in the Borough buildings and premises used for residential and nonresidential
purposes which are or may become substandard with respect to structural
integrity, equipment or maintenance, and further, that such conditions,
including but not limited to structural deterioration, lack of exterior
maintenance, infestation, lack of minimal essential heating, plumbing,
storage or refrigeration equipment, lack of maintenance or upkeep
of essential utilities and facilities, existence of fire hazards,
inadequate provisions for light and air, unsanitary conditions and
overcrowding, constitute a menace to health, safety, welfare and reasonable
comfort of the citizens and inhabitants of the Borough. It is further
found and declared that there are certain problems endemic to multiple
dwellings, and certain greater protections are necessary.
The purpose of this code is to protect the public
health, safety and welfare by establishing standards governing the
maintenance, condition and occupancy of premises situated in the Borough
used or intended to be used or designed to be used, in whole or in
part, for residential and nonresidential purposes; to establish standards
governing utilities, facilities and other physical components and
conditions essential to make such premises fit for human habitation,
occupancy and use; to fix certain responsibilities and duties upon
owners and operators and distinct and separate responsibilities upon
occupants; to prevent blighting conditions; to authorize and establish
procedures for the inspection of such premises; to correct violations
or to fix penalties for the violations of this code; to provide for
the right of access across adjoining premises to permit repairs. This
code is hereby declared to be remedial and essential for the public
interest, and it is intended that this code be liberally construed
to effectuate the purposes as stated herein.
A certain document, three copies of which are on file in the office of the Borough Clerk of the Borough of Ridgefield, being marked and designated as the International Property Maintenance Code as published by the International Code Council, Inc., be and is hereby adopted as the Property Maintenance Code of the Borough of Ridgefield, in the State of New Jersey; for the control of buildings and structures as herein provided; and each and all of the regulations, provisions, penalties, conditions and terms of said Property Maintenance Code are hereby referred to, adopted and made a part thereof, as if fully set out in this Part
13, with the additions, insertions, deletions and changes, if any, prescribed herein below:
The following sections of the Property Maintenance
Code are hereby revised:
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Section 101.1: Insert: Borough of Ridgefield.
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Section 103.6: This section is deleted in its
entirety.
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Section 303.14: Insert: Insect Screens - May
1 to October 1 of each year.
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Section 602.3: Insert: Heat Supply - October
1 of each year to next succeeding May 1.
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Section 602.4. Insert: October 1 of each year
to next succeeding May 1.
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Any person who shall violate any of the provisions
of this code shall, upon conviction, be punished by a fine not to
exceed $1,000, plus any cost to the Borough for enforcement of this
chapter, or by imprisonment in the county jail for a period not to
exceed 90 days, or both such fine and imprisonment. Each violation
of any of the provisions of this code and each day the same is violated
shall be deemed and taken to be a separate and distinct offense.
Any and all other ordinances inconsistent with, or not conforming to, the provisions of this Part
13 be and hereby are repealed to the extent of such nonconformity or inconsistency.
Nothing in this Part
13 or in the Property Maintenance Code hereby adopted shall be construed to affect any suit or proceeding impending in any court, or any rights acquired, or liability incurred, or any cause or causes of action acquired or existing, under any act or ordinance hereby repealed as cited in §
390-248 of this Part
13; nor shall any just or legal right or remedy of any character be lost, impaired or affected by this Part
13.