TOWNSHIP OF NORTH HANOVER

COUNTY OF BURLINGTON

ORDINANCE No. 2022-02

 

AN ORDINANCE OF THE TOWNSHIP OF NORTH HANOVER, BURLINGTON COUNTY, NEW JERSEY PROVIDING FOR LOCAL ENFORCEMNT OF THE NEW JERSEY FIRE CODE

 

WHEREAS, the Uniform Fire Safety Act, (P.L. 1983, c.383) was enacted for the purpose of establishing a system for the enforcement of minimum fire safety standards throughout the State of New Jersey; and

 

WHEREAS, the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs has promulgated minimum fire safety standards which have been made part of the Uniform Fire Code (N.J.A.C. 5:70.1 et seq.); and

 

WHEREAS, the Uniform Safety Act authorizes municipalities to provide for local enforcement of these standards and to establish local enforcement agencies for that purpose; and

 

WHEREAS, it is in the best interest of the Township of North Hanover to have the Uniform Fire Code enforced locally.

 

NOW THEREFORE BE IT ORDAINED by the Township Committee of the Township of North Hanover in the County of Burlington and State of New Jersey, as follows:

 

SECTION 1. ENFORCMENT OF UNIFORM FIRE CODE

 

            A.        LOCAL ENFORCEMENT

                        Pursuant to Section 11 of the Uniform Fire Safety Act (P.L. 1983, c.383), the                                New Jersey Uniform Fire Code (N.J.A.C. 5:70-1 et seq.) shall be locally enforced                         in the Township of North Hanover.

 

            B.        AGENCY DESIGNATION

                        The local enforcing agency shall be the Township Bureau of Fire Prevention                                 which is hereby created therein. The Bureau of Fire Prevention shall hereinafter                            be known as the local enforcing agency.

 

            C.        DUTIES

                        (1)        The local enforcing agency shall enforce the Uniform Fire Code in all                                buildings, structures, and premises with the established boundaries of the                                       Township of North Hanover, other than one- and two-unit owner-occupied                                    dwellings used exclusively for dwelling purposes and buildings, structures, and                             premises owned or operated by federal government, intestate agencies, or the                                state.

 

                        (2)        The local enforcing agency shall faithfully comply with all pertinent                                   requirements of the Uniform Fire Safety Act and the Uniform Fire Code.

           

            D.        ORGANIZATION

                        (1)        The Bureau of Fire Prevention established by this article shall be under the                        direct   supervision and control of a Fire Official who shall be appointed by and                             report to the Township Committee.

 

                        (2)        The Bureau of Fire Prevention shall have at least one paid Fire Official                              and such paid inspectors as may be necessary to properly enforce the Uniform                               Fire Code.

 

                        (3)        The Township Committee shall hereby be permitted to appoint a                                         temporary Fire Official in the absence of duly appointed Fire Official.

 

            E.        APPOINTMENTS, QUALIFICATIONS, TERMS OF OFFICE, REMOVAL

                        (1)        Appointment and Qualification of the Fire Official. The Fire Official shall                         be certified by the State and appointed by the Township Committee.

 

                        (2)        Appointment and qualification of inspectors and other employees.                                      Inspectors and other employees of the local enforcing agency shall be appointed                            by the Township Committee upon recommendation of the Fire Official. All life                                  hazard inspectors shall be certified by the State.

 

                        (3)        Removal from office. The Fire Official, inspectors and other employees of                         the local enforcing agency shall be subject to removal by the Township                                          Committee pursuant to any applicable state or federal law, or local ordinances.

 

            F.         LIFE HAZARD USES

                        The Bureau of Fire Prevention established herein 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.

 

            G.        NON-LIFE HAZARD USES

                        (1)        In addition to the registrations required by the Uniform Fire Code, non-life                        hazard uses shall also register with the North Hanover Township Bureau of Fire                            Prevention. These uses shall be inspected once per year and pay an annual fee as                           set forth below:

 

                        Type of Fee                                                                                         Fee                 

                       

                        A-Assembly

                        A-1      Eating establishment with occupancy less than 50 persons          $100

                        A-2      Takeout food service (no seating)                                              $100

                        A-3      Recreation centers, multipurpose rooms with occupancy

                                    less than 50 persons                                                                  $125

                        A-4      Libraries with occupancy less than 50 persons                            $125

                        A-5      Senior centers with occupancy less than 50 persons                    $125

 

                        B-Business/Professional

                        B-1      1- and 2-story less than 5,000 square feet per floor                     $100

                        B-2      1- and 2-story more than 5,000 square feet but

                                    less than 10,000 square feet per floor                                         $125

                        B-3      1- and 2-story more than 10,000 square feet per floor                  $150

                        B-4      3- to 5-story less than 5,000 square feet per floor                        $200

                        B-5      3- to 5-story more than 5,000 square feet less than

                                    10,000 square feet per floor                                                       $250

                        B-6      3- to 5-story over 10,000 square feet per floor                            $300

 

                        R-Retail

                        M-1      1- and 2-story less than 5,000 square feet                                   $125

                        M-2      1- and 2-story more than 5,000 square feet but less

                                    than 10,000 square feet per floor                                                $150

                        M-3      1- and 2-story more than 10,000 square feet per floor                  $175

                        M-4      3- to 5-story less than 5,000 square feet per floor                        $200

                        M-5      3- to 5-story more than 5,000 square feet but less than

                                    10,000 square feet per floor                                                       $250

 

                        M-6      3- to 5-story over 10,000 square feet per floor                            $300

 

                        M-Manufacturing

                        F-1       1- and 2-story less than 5,000 square feet                                   $125

                        F-2       1- and 2-story more than 5,000 square feet but less than                                                                          10,000 square feet per floor                                                       $150

                        F-3       1- and 2-story more than 10,000 square feet per floor                  $175

                        F-4       3- to 5-story less than 5,000 square feet per floor                        $200

                        F-5       3- to 5-story more than 5,000 square feet but less than

                                    10,000 square feet per floor                                                       $250

                        F-6       3- to 5-story over 10,000 square feet per floor                            $300

 

                        S-Storage

                        S-1       1- and 2-story less than 5,000 square feet                                   $125

                        S-2       1- and 2-story more than 5,000 square feet but less than

                                    10,000 square feet per floor                                                       $150

                        S-3       1- and 2-story more than 10,000 square feet per floor                  $175

                        S-4       3- to 5-story less than 5,000 square feet per floor                        $200

                        S-5       3- to 5-story more than 5,000 square feet but less than

                                    10,000 square feet per floor                                                       $250

                        S-6       3- to 5-story over 10,000 square feet per floor                            $300

 

                        (2)        Failure to pay the required annual non-life-hazard use registration fee(s) within                            60 days from the date of issuance will result in the issuance of a written order by the Fire                         Official to make such payment in addition to the imposition of a penalty in an amount                             equal to the unpaid fee(s). These penalties will be in addition to non-life-hazard use fee(s)                     due and must be paid within 30 days after issuance by the Fire Official of the written                           order to abate the violation and pay the penalty. If the total fee(s) and penalties are not                           paid within 30 days of the issuance of the written order, the Fire Official may institute a                          civil penalty action by a summary proceeding in the North Hanover Township Municipal                             Court or New Jersey Superior Court under the New Jersey Penalty Enforcement Law of                         1999, N.J.S.A. 2A:58-10 et seq., and this section.

 

            F.         PERMITS AND CERTIFICATE OF FIRE CODE STATUS

                        (1)        The application fees for permits listed in N.J.A.C. 5:70-2.7 (b) shall be as                          provided by State regulation.

 

                        (2)        The cost for the issuance of certificate of Fire Code status shall be $35.

            H.        FEES FOR SMOKE DETECTOR AND CARBON MONOXIDE ALARMS

                        Fees for certificate of smoke detector and carbon monoxide (CSCCMAC), as                                required by N.J.A.C. 5:70-2.3, shall be based upon the amount of time remaining                          before the change of occupant is expected, as follows:

 

                        (1)        Requests for CSDCMAC received more than 10 business days prior to                                           change of occupant: $35.00.

                        (2)        Requests for a CSDCMAC received four to 10 business days prior to the                                        change of occupant: $70.00.

                        (3)        Requests for a CSDCMAC received fewer than four business days prior to                                     the change of occupant: $125.00.

 

                        I.          BOARD OF APPEALS

                        Pursuant to §§15 and 17 of the Uniform Fire Safety Act, any person aggrieved by                         any action of the local enforcing agency shall have the right to appeal to the                                   Construction Board of Appeals of Burlington County.

 

            J.         ENFORCEMENT, VIOLATIONS, AND PENALTIES

                        Enforcement, violations, and penalties shall be as established in conformity with                           the Uniform Fire Safety Act, the Uniform Fire Code and all other laws of the                                 State of New Jersey.           

 

SECTION 2.  All ordinances or parts of ordinances inconsistent with or in conflict with this ordinance are hereby repealed to the extent of such inconsistency.

 

SECTION 3.  If any section, paragraph, subdivision, clause or provision of this Ordinance shall be adjudged invalid, such adjudication shall apply only to the section, paragraph, subdivision, clause or provision so adjudged and the remainder of the Ordinance shall remain valid and effective.

 

SECTION 4. This ordinance shall take effect immediately upon final passage and publication according to law.

***************************************

NOTICE

This Ordinance published herewith was introduced and passed upon first reading at the regular meeting of the Township Committee of the Township of North Hanover held on March 3, 2022. It will be further considered for final passage after a public hearing to be held on March 17, 2022, at the Municipal Building, 41 Schoolhouse Road, Jacobstown, NJ at 7:00 p.m. or as soon thereafter as the matter may be heard, at which time and place any person desired to be heard upon the same will be given an opportunity to be heard. Copies are available free of charge at the Municipal Clerk’s Office prior to the public hearing.

 

                                                                                    ______________________________
                                                                                    Mary Picariello, RMC/CMR/CTC

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Municipal Clerk

 

 

 

 

Vote to Introduce Ordinance 2022-02:                  

 

COMMITTEE

MOTION

2ND

AYES

NAYS

ABSTAIN

ABSENT

Committeeman DeBaecke

X

 

X

 

 

 

Deputy Mayor Forsyth

 

X

 

 

 

Committeeman Kocubinski

 

X

X

 

 

 

Committeeman O’Donnell

 

 

 

X

Mayor Doyle

 

 

X

 

 

 

 

NOTICE

 

The ordinance read by title upon second reading herewith has been adopted at the meeting of the Mayor and Township Committee of North Hanover Township, held on March 17, 2022.

 

                                                                                                _________________________

                                                                                                Mary Picariello, RMC/CMR/CTC

                                                                                                Municipal Clerk

Vote on Adoption:

COMMITTEE

MOTION

2ND

AYES

NAYS

ABSTAIN

ABSENT

Committeeman DeBaecke

X

 

X

 

 

 

Deputy Mayor Forsyth

 

X

 

 

 

Committeeman Kocubinski

 

 

X

 

 

 

Committeeman O’Donnell

X

X

 

 

 

Mayor Doyle

 

 

X