Source: https://ecode360.com/32664369
Timestamp: 2018-08-19 09:35:49
Document Index: 780046949

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 34', '§ 34', '§ 34', '§ 34', '§ 34', '§ 34', '§ 34', '§ 34', '§ 34', '§ 34', '§ 34', '§ 34', '§ 34']

City of Corbin City, NJ Abandoned Real Property
§ 34-1 Purpose and intent.
§ 34-4 Establishment of registry.
§ 34-5 Registration of abandoned real property.
§ 34-6 Maintenance requirements.
§ 34-7 Security requirements.
§ 34-8 Public nuisance.
§ 34-9 Penalties; schedule of civil penalties.
§ 34-10 Inspections for violations.
§ 34-11 Additional authority.
§ 34-12 Opposing or obstructing enforcement officer.
§ 34-13 Immunity of enforcement officer.
§ 34-14 Severability.
Chapter 34: Abandoned Real Property
[HISTORY: Adopted by the Common Council of the City of Corbin City 3-14-2016 by Ord. No. 3-2016. Amendments noted where applicable.]
Chapter 34 : Abandoned Real Property
It is the purpose and intent of the municipality to establish a process to address the deterioration and blight of municipal neighborhoods caused by an increasing amount of abandoned, foreclosed or distressed real property located within the municipality and to identify, regulate, limit and reduce the number of abandoned properties located within the municipality. It is the municipality's further intent to participate in the county-wide registration program established by the Atlantic County Improvement Authority and administered by Community Champions Corporation as a mechanism to protect neighborhoods from becoming blighted due to the lack of adequate maintenance and security of abandoned and foreclosed properties.
Any real property located in the municipality, whether vacant or occupied, that is in default on a mortgage, has a lis pendens filed against it by the lender holding a mortgage on the property, is subject to an ongoing foreclosure action by the lender, is subject to an application for a tax deed or pending Tax Assessor's lien sale, or has been transferred to the lender under a deed in lieu of foreclosure. The designation of a property as "abandoned" shall remain in place until such time as the property is sold or transferred to a new owner, the foreclosure action has been dismissed, and any default on the mortgage has been cured.
Includes, but is not limited to, the municipality's Zoning Code,[1] the municipality's Code of Ordinances ("Corbin City Code"), and the New Jersey Building Code.
Properties cited for public nuisance pursuant to the Corbin City Code; or
Properties that endanger the public's health, safety, or welfare because the properties or improvements thereon are dilapidated, deteriorated, or violate minimum health and safety standards or lack maintenance as required by the Corbin City Code.
A local property manager, property maintenance company or similar entity responsible for the maintenance or operation of the property involved.
Editor's Note: see Ch. 102, Zoning, Subdivision and Site Plan Review.
Pursuant to the provisions of § 34-5, the municipality or designee shall participate in the county-wide registration program established by the Atlantic County Improvement Authority and administered by Community Champions Corporation cataloging each abandoned property within the municipality, containing the information required by this chapter.
Any mortgagee who holds a mortgage on real property located within the municipality of Corbin City shall perform an inspection of the property to determine vacancy or occupancy, upon default by the mortgagor. The mortgagee shall, within 10 days of the inspection, register the property with the Division of Code Enforcement, or designee, on forms or website access provided by the municipality, and indicate whether the property is vacant or occupied. A separate registration is required for each property, whether it is found to be vacant or occupied.
If the property is occupied but remains in default, it shall be inspected by the mortgagee or his designee monthly until the mortgagor or other party remedies the default, or it is found to be vacant or shows evidence of vacancy, at which time it is deemed abandoned, and the mortgagee shall, within 10 days of that inspection, update the property registration to a vacancy status on forms provided by the municipality.
Registration pursuant to this section shall contain the name of the mortgagee and the server, the direct mailing address of the mortgagee and the server, a direct contact name and telephone number for both parties, a facsimile number and e-mail address for both parties, the folio or tax number, and the name and twenty-four-hour contact telephone number of the property management company responsible for the security and maintenance of the property.
A non-refundable annual registration fee in the amount of $300 per property shall accompany the registration form or website registration.
Properties subject to this chapter shall be kept free of weeds; overgrown brush; dead vegetation; trash; junk; debris; building materials; any accumulation of newspapers, circulars, flyers, or notices, except those required by federal, state or local law; discarded personal items, including, but not limited to, furniture, clothing, large and small appliances; printed material; or any other items that give the appearance that the property is abandoned.
Failure of the mortgagee and/or owner to properly maintain the property may result in a violation of the applicable code(s) and issuance of a citation or notice of violation in accordance with Chapter 103 of the Corbin City Code. Pursuant to a finding and determination by the municipality's Code Enforcement Officer/Board, Hearing Officer/Special Magistrate or a court of competent jurisdiction, the municipality may take the necessary action to ensure compliance with this section.
Any person who shall violate the provisions of this chapter may be cited and fined as provided in Chapter 103 of the Corbin City Code. In addition thereto, a civil penalty may be administratively assessed by the municipality, or its designees, in the amount of $500 for each violation for failure to register abandoned real property as provided herein, which administrative remedy shall not be exclusive of other action taken in a court of competent jurisdiction.
Adherence to this chapter does not relieve any person, legal entity or agent from any other obligations set forth in any applicable code(s) which may apply to the property. Upon sale or transfer of title to the property, the owner shall be responsible for all violations of the applicable code(s), and the owner shall be responsible for meeting with the municipality's Code Enforcement Division within 45 days for a final courtesy inspection report.
If the enforcement officer has reason to believe that a property subject to the provisions of this chapter is posing a serious threat to the public health, safety and welfare, the code enforcement officer may temporarily secure the property at the expense of the mortgagee and/or owner and may bring the violations before the municipality's governing body as soon as possible to address the conditions of the property.
The municipality's governing body shall have the authority to require the mortgagee and/or owner of record of any property affected by this chapter to implement additional maintenance and/or security measures including, but not limited to, securing any and all doors, windows or other openings, employment of an on-site security guard, or other measures as may be reasonably required to help prevent further decline of the property.
If there is a finding that the condition of the property is posing a serious threat to the public health, safety and welfare, then the municipality's governing body may take action to abate the violations and charge the mortgagee with the cost of the abatement.
If the mortgagee does not reimburse the municipality for the cost of temporarily securing the property, or of any abatement directed by the municipal governing body, within 30 days of the municipality sending the mortgagee the invoice, then the municipality may lien the property with such cost, along with an administrative fee of $500 to recover the administrative personnel services, all of which may be levied as an additional tax assessment upon the property immediately due and payable.
Whoever opposes, obstructs or resists any enforcement officer or any person authorized by the enforcement office in the discharge of duties as provided in this chapter shall be punishable as provided in the applicable code(s) or in a court of competent jurisdiction.
Any enforcement officer or any person authorized by the municipality to enforce the sections here within shall be immune from prosecution, civil or criminal, for reasonable, good-faith entry upon real property while in the discharge of duties imposed by this chapter.
If any section, sentence, clause, or phrase of this chapter is held to be invalid or unconstitutional by any court of competent jurisdiction, then said holding shall in no way affect the validity of the remaining portions of this chapter.