Source: https://www.ecode360.com/11254715
Timestamp: 2018-02-20 20:58:56
Document Index: 198270872

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 120', '§ 120', '§ 120', '§ 120', '§ 120', '§ 120', '§ 120', '§ 120', '§ 120', '§ 120', '§ 120', '§ 120', '§ 120', '§ 120', '§ 120', '§ 120', '§ 120', '§ 120', '§ 120']

Borough of Netcong, NJ Buildings, Unfit
§ 120-2 Declaration of public necessity.
§ 120-3 Designation of public officer.
§ 120-4 Petition; preliminary investigation.
§ 120-5 Conditions for determination of unfitness.
§ 120-6 Complaint; notice of hearing.
§ 120-7 Right to answer, appear and give testimony.
§ 120-8 Court rules not to control at hearing.
§ 120-9 Determination of unfitness.
§ 120-10 Order to repair, vacate or demolish.
§ 120-11 Failure to comply with orders.
§ 120-12 Costs to become lien; sale of materials; disposition of proceeds.
§ 120-13 Manner of service of complaints, notices and orders.
§ 120-14 Additional powers and duties of Construction Official.
§ 120-16 Fire-damaged and structurally unsafe buildings.
§ 120-17 Nonliability for damages.
§ 120-18 Construal of provisions.
Chapter 120: Buildings, Unfit
[HISTORY: Adopted by the Mayor and Council of the Borough of Netcong 8-12-1986. Amendments noted where applicable.]
Chapter 120 : Buildings, Unfit
Any building or structure or part thereof whether used for human habitation or otherwise, and includes any outhouses and appurtenances belonging thereto or usually enjoyed therewith.
It has been found and declared that there exist in the Borough buildings which are so old, dilapidated or have become so out of repair as to be dangerous, unsafe, unsanitary or otherwise unfit for human habitation or occupancy or use, and that the occupancy or use of such buildings for any purpose is inimical to the health and safety of the people of the Borough, and that a public necessity exists for the repair, closing or demolition of such building.
For the enforcement of provisions of this chapter, the Borough Construction Official shall exercise all powers of the public officer conferred upon him by N.J.S.A. 40:48-2.3 et seq.
Whenever it appears that there exists in the Borough any building which is unfit for human habitation or occupancy or use due to dilapidation, disrepair, structural defect increasing the hazards of fire, accidents or other calamities, lack of adequate ventilation, light or sanitary facilities, or due to other conditions rendering such building unsafe or unsanitary and dangerous or detrimental to the health or safety or otherwise inimical to the welfare of the residents, upon the filing of a petition by a public authority, or by at least five residents of the Borough, charging that any building is unfit for human habitation or occupancy or use, or if it shall appear to the Construction Official on his own motion that any building is unfit for human habitation or occupancy or use the Construction Official shall make a preliminary investigation or cause such preliminary investigation to be made concerning the basis for such charges.
Buildings shall be considered unfit for human habitation or occupancy or use within the meaning of § 120-4 when one or more of the following conditions are found to exist:
Condition of structure: The condition of the structure is such as to make it unsafe or unsanitary through the presence of serious safety hazards resulting from the need for major repairs to roof, walls, ceilings, floors or stairs or through the presence of serious health hazards resulting from continuous dampness of exposures brought about by neglect or dilapidation.
The generality of the conditions rendering a building unfit for human habitation or occupancy or use, specified in § 120-4, shall not be deemed in anywise limited by the foregoing specifications of condition.
The Construction Official may determine that a building is unfit for human habitation or occupancy or use if he finds that conditions exist in such building which are dangerous or injurious to the health or safety of the occupants of such building, the occupants of neighboring buildings or other residents of the Borough; such conditions may include, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, defects increasing the hazards of fire, accidents or other calamities; lack of adequate ventilation, light or sanitary facilities; dilapidation; disrepair; structural defects, uncleanliness and the conditions set forth in §§ 120-4 and 120-5.
When, after such notice and hearing, the Construction Official determines that the building under consideration is unfit for human habitation or occupancy or use, he shall state, in writing, his findings of fact in support of such determination and shall issue and cause to be served upon the owner thereof, and the parties in interest, an order, as follows:
Requiring the repair, alteration or improvement of the building to be made by the owner, within a reasonable time, which shall in no event exceed 90 days from the order, which time shall be set forth in the order, or, at the option of the owner, to vacate or have said building vacated and closed within the time set forth in the order.
If the building is in such a condition as to make it dangerous to the health and safety of persons on or near the premises and the owner fails to repair, alter or improve said building within the time specified in the order, then the owner shall be required to remove or demolish said building within a reasonable time to be specified in the order.
Placarding. If the owner fails to comply with an order to repair, alter or improve, or at the option of the owner, to vacate and close the building, the Construction Official may cause such building to be repaired, altered or improved, or to be vacated and closed. The Construction Official shall cause to be posted on the main entrance of any building so closed a placard with the following words: "This building is unfit for human habitation or occupancy or use; the use or occupation of this building is prohibited and unlawful."
Removal by Borough. If the owner fails to comply with an order to remove or demolish the building, the Construction Official may cause such building to be removed or demolished or may contract for the removal or demolition thereof after advertisement for, and after receipt of, bids therefor.
The amount of the cost of filing of legal papers, expert witnesses' fees, search fees and advertising charges, incurred in the course of any proceeding taken under this chapter determined in favor of the Borough; and such repairs, alterations or improvements, or vacating and closing, or removal or demolition, when done by the Construction Official, shall be a municipal lien against the real property upon which such cost was incurred.
If the building is removed or demolished by the Construction Official, he shall sell the materials of such building and shall credit the proceeds of such sale as against the cost of the removal or demolition thereof, including the clearance, and, if necessary, leveling of the site. If the total of the credits exceeds such costs, the balance remaining shall be deposited in the Superior Court of New Jersey, Chancery Division, by the Construction Official, shall be secured in such manner as may be directed by such court, and shall be disbursed by such court to the persons found to be entitled thereto by final order or decree of such court.
Complaints or orders issued by the Construction Official pursuant to this chapter shall be served upon persons either personally or by registered mail. If the whereabouts of such persons is unknown and the same cannot be ascertained by such Official in the exercise of reasonable diligence, and such Official shall make an affidavit to that effect, then the serving of such complaint, notice or order upon such persons may be made by publishing the same once in a newspaper printed and published in the Borough. A copy of such complaint or order shall be posted in a conspicuous place on the premises affected by the complaint or order. A copy of such complaint or order shall be duly recorded or lodged for record with the County Clerk of Morris County.
Investigate the building conditions in the Borough in order to determine which buildings therein are unfit for human habitation or occupancy or use.
The remedies herein provided shall be exclusive remedies and no person affected by an order of the Construction Official shall be entitled to recover any damages for action taken pursuant to any order of the Construction Official or because of noncompliance by such person with any order of the Construction Official.
Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to abrogate or impair the powers of the courts, or of any department to enforce any provision of its charter or its ordinances or regulations, nor to prohibit or punish violations thereof; and the powers conferred by this chapter shall be in addition and supplemental to the powers conferred by any other law or ordinance.
Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to impair or limit in any way the power of the Borough to define and declare nuisances and to cause their removal or abatement, by summary proceedings or otherwise, nor is anything in this act intended to limit the authority of the enforcing agency or Construction Official under the State Uniform Construction Code Act, P.L. 1975, c. 217 (N.J.S.A. 52:27D-119 et seq.), or any rules or regulations adopted thereunder.