Source: https://www.ecode360.com/33204322
Timestamp: 2019-04-19 16:31:06+00:00

Document:
§ 303-3 Registration of vacant and abandoned properties.
§ 303-4 Creditor responsibility for vacant and abandoned properties.
§ 303-7 Violations and penalties.
Nuisances — See Ch. 269.
Numbering of buildings — See Ch. 276.
The purpose of this chapter is to create a regulation regarding registration and maintenance of vacant and abandoned residential properties in foreclosure in accordance with the provisions of P.L. 2014, c.35.
Consistent with section 3 of P.L. 2008, c.86, a state chartered bank, savings bank, savings and loan association or any credit union, any person required to be licensed under the provisions of the New Jersey Residential Mortgage Lending Act, and any entity acting on behalf of the creditor named in the debt obligation, including but not limited to, servicers.
A creditor filing a summons and complaint in an action to foreclose on a vacant and abandoned property, or a creditor who has previously filed a summons and complaint to foreclose on a residential property which subsequently becomes vacant and abandoned, shall, within 30 calendar days after the building becomes vacant and abandoned or within 30 calendar days after assuming ownership of the vacant and abandoned property, whichever is later; or within 10 calendar days of receipt of notice from the Borough, and annually thereafter, file a registration statement for such vacant and abandoned property with the Municipal Clerk on forms provided by the Borough for such purposes. Any failure to receive notice from the Borough shall not constitute grounds for failing to register the vacant and abandoned property.
Each vacant and abandoned property having a separate block and lot number as designated in the official tax maps of the Borough shall be registered separately.
The registration statement shall include the name, street address, telephone number, and e-mail address (if applicable) of a person 21 years or older, designated by the creditor as the authorized agent for receiving notices of code violations and for receiving process in any court proceeding or administrative enforcement proceeding on behalf of such creditor in connection with the enforcement of any applicable code.
The registration statement shall include the name, street address, telephone number, and e-mail address (if applicable) of the firm and the actual name(s) of the firm's individual principal(s) responsible for maintaining the abandoned and vacant property. The individual or representative of the firm responsible for maintaining the abandoned and vacant property shall be available by telephone or in person on a twenty-four-hour-per-day, seven-day-per-week basis. The two entities may be the same or different persons. Both entities shown on the statement must maintain offices in the State of New Jersey or reside within the State of New Jersey.
The registration shall remain valid for one year from the date of registration except for the initial registration which shall be valid through December 31 of the year in which it was filed. The creditor shall be required to renew the registration annually as long as the building remains vacant and abandoned and shall pay a registration or renewal fee in the amount prescribed in Subsection J of this section for each vacant and abandoned property registered.
The annual renewal shall be completed by January 1 each year. The initial registration fee shall be pro-rated for registration statements received less than 10 months prior to that date.
The creditor shall notify the Municipal Clerk within 30 calendar days of any change in the registration information by filing an amended registration statement on a form provided by the Municipal Clerk for such purpose.
The registration statement shall be deemed prima facie proof of the statements therein contained in any administrative enforcement proceeding or court proceeding instituted by the Borough against the creditor.
Fee Schedule. The initial registration fee for each vacant and abandoned property under the provisions of this section shall be $500. The fee for the first annual renewal shall be $1,500, and the fee for the second annual renewal shall be $3,000. The fee for any subsequent annual renewal beyond the second renewal shall be $5,000.
A creditor filing a summons and complaint in an action to foreclose on a residential property within the Borough shall be immediately responsible for the care, maintenance, security, and upkeep of the exterior of the property, after the property becomes vacant and abandoned as defined in this chapter.
Where a creditor is located out-of-state, the creditor shall be responsible for appointing an in-state representative or agent to act on the creditor's behalf for the purpose of satisfying the requirements of Subsections C and D of § 303-3. Notice of said representative or agent shall be provided to the Borough Clerk in a manner that is consistent with subsection a. of section 17 of P.L. 2008, c.127 (the "Save New Jersey Homes Act of 2008"), and shall further include the full name and contact information of the in-state representative or agent.
Any public officer designated by the Borough pursuant to § 303-6 or authorized municipal official responsible for the administration of any property maintenance or public nuisance code shall be authorized to issue a notice to a creditor that has filed a summons and complaint in an action to foreclose on a residential property within the Borough, if the public officer determines that the creditor has violated this chapter by failing to provide for the care, maintenance, security, and upkeep of the exterior of the property. Where a creditor is an out-of-state creditor, the notice shall be issued to the representative or agent that has been identified by the creditor pursuant to § 303-4 of this chapter and the Save New Jersey Homes Act of 2008.
The notice referenced in Subsection A of this section shall require the creditor to correct the violation(s) within 30 days of receipt of the notice, or within 10 days of receipt of the notice if the violation presents an imminent threat to public health and safety.
The issuance of a notice pursuant to Subsection A of this section shall constitute proof that a residential property is vacant and abandoned for the purposes of this chapter.
The duty of administering and enforcing the provisions of this chapter is conferred upon the Municipal Clerk, construction official, Zoning Officer, police, and any other duly appointed representatives.
A creditor subject to this chapter that is found by the Municipal Court of the Borough, or by any other court of competent jurisdiction, to be in violation of the requirement to correct a care, maintenance, security, or upkeep violation cited in a notice issued pursuant to this chapter shall be subject to a fine of $1,500 for each day of the violation. Any fines imposed pursuant to this subsection shall commence 31 days following the creditor's receipt of the notice, except where the violation is deemed to present an imminent risk to the public health and safety, in which case any fines shall commence 11 days following receipt of the notice.
An out-of-state creditor subject to this chapter that is found by the Municipal Court of the Borough, or by any other court of competent jurisdiction, to be in violation of the requirement to appoint an in-state representative or agent shall be subject to a fine of $2,500 for each day of the violation. Any fines imposed on an out-of-state creditor for the failure to appoint an in-state representative or agent shall commence on the day after the ten-day period set forth in paragraph (1) of subsection a. of section 17 of P.L. 2008, c.127 (N.J.S.A. 46:10B-51) for providing notice to the Municipal Clerk that a summons and complaint in an action to foreclose on a mortgage has been served.
A creditor subject to this section that is found by the Municipal Court of the Borough, or by any other court of competent jurisdiction, to be in violation of the requirement to register a vacant and abandoned property pursuant to § 303-3 shall be subject to a fine not exceeding $2,000. Any fines imposed on a creditor under this subsection shall commence 11 days following receipt of notice from the Borough pursuant to § 303-3A.
No less than 20% of any money collected by the Borough pursuant to this section shall be utilized by the Borough for municipal code enforcement purposes.

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