Source: https://ecode360.com/11423558
Timestamp: 2020-04-04 18:55:41
Document Index: 768623672

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 143', '§ 143', '§ 143', '§ 143', '§ 143', '§ 143', '§ 143', '§ 143', '§ 143', '§ 143', '§ 143', '§ 143', '§ 143', '§ 143', '§ 143', '§ 143', '§ 143', '§ 143', '§ 143', '§ 143', '§ 143', '§ 159']

Township of Woolwich, NJ Property Maintenance
Ch 143 Art I Adoption of Property Maintenance Code
§ 143-1 Adoption of standards.
§ 143-2 Revisions.
§ 143-3 Repealer.
§ 143-4 Construal of provisions.
§ 143-4.1 Maintenance of residential and nonresidential property.
Ch 143 Art II Vacant, Abandoned and Foreclosed Properties
§ 143-5 Purpose.
§ 143-6 Definitions.
§ 143-7 Applicability.
§ 143-8 Establishment of registry.
§ 143-9 Registration of vacant, abandoned, and foreclosed real property.
§ 143-10 Registration, inspection and other fees.
§ 143-11 Safety and maintenance inspections.
§ 143-12 Maintenance and security requirements.
§ 143-13 Property damaged by fire.
§ 143-14 Right of entry.
§ 143-15 Reoccupancy and/or sale of property.
§ 143-16 Violations and penalties.
§ 143-17 Opposing, obstructing enforcement officer; penalty.
§ 143-18 Immunity of enforcement officer.
Chapter 143 Property Maintenance
Article I Adoption of Property Maintenance Code
Article II Vacant, Abandoned and Foreclosed Properties
[Adopted 4-4-2005 by Ord. No. 2005-15[1]]
Editor's Note: This ordinance also repealed former Ch. 143, Property Maintenance, adopted 4-5-2004 by Ord. No. 2004-04.
A certain document, three copies of which are on file in the office of the Woolwich Township Construction Code Official of the Township of Woolwich, being marked and designated as the "International Property Maintenance Code, 2003 Edition," as published by the International Code Council, be and is hereby adopted as the Property Maintenance Code of the Township of Woolwich in the State of New Jersey for regulating and governing the conditions and maintenance of all property, buildings and structures; by providing the standards for supplied utilities and facilities and other physical things and conditions essential to ensure that structures are safe, sanitary and fit for occupation and use; and the condemnation of buildings and structures unfit for human occupancy and use, and the demolition of such existing structures as herein provided; providing for the issuance of permits and collection of fees therefor; and each and all of the regulations, provisions, penalties, conditions and terms of said Property Maintenance Code on file in the office of the Township of Woolwich are hereby referred to, adopted and made a part hereof, as if fully set out in this chapter, with the additions, insertions, deletions and changes, if any, prescribed in § 143-2 of this chapter.
Insert: Township of Woolwich
Section 103.5 Fees
Insert: (Schedule of Fees)
Section 304.14 Insect Screens
Insert: January 1-December 31
Section 602.3 Heat Supply
Insert: September 1-June 1
Section 602.4 Occupiable Work Spaces
Chapter 143 entitled "Property Maintenance" of the Code of the Township of Woolwich and all other ordinances or parts of ordinances in conflict herewith are hereby repealed.
Nothing in this chapter 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 § 143-2 of this chapter, nor shall any just or legal right or remedy of any character be lost, impaired or affected by this chapter.
[Added 10-5-2015 by Ord. No. 2015-20]
The duties and responsibilities of owners and operators are as follows:
The duties of the owner and operator as herein stated are coextensive with provisions of the 2009 International Property Maintenance Code and any other relating ordinance/code and its chapters of the Township of Woolwich and State Housing Code.
Hazards and unsanitary conditions. The grounds related to buildings shall be keep free of hazards and nuisances, including but not limited to the following:
Refuse, brush, weeds, broken glass, stumps, roots, obnoxious growths, filth, garbage, trash, debris, slippery conditions and excretion of pets and other animals on paths, walks, driveways, parking lots, and parking areas.
Noxious weeds. (See 302.4 Weeds of the 2009 International Property Code.)
Natural growth such as dead and dying trees and limbs or other natural growth which, by reason of rotting or deteriorating conditions or storm damage, constitute a hazard to persons in the vicinity thereof.
Ground surface hazards such as holes, excavations, breaks, projections, obstructions, icy conditions, unclean snow on paths, walks, and parking lots. Upon discovery, such hazards should be properly marked and protected until the hazard is eliminated. All icy conditions, unclean snow on paths, walks, sidewalks and parking lots shall be removed of all snow and ice or, in the case of ice which may be so frozen as to make removal impractical, shall cause the same to be thoroughly covered with sand, salt or cinders within 24 hours after the same shall fall or be formed thereon. (Also see Township Code § 159-17.) All such holes and excavations shall be filled and repaired, walks and steps replaced to original specification and other conditions removed where necessary to eliminate hazards or unsanitary conditions within 30 days of their discovery.
Landscaping. All premises shall be kept landscaped pursuant to site plan requirements (nonresidential property), and lawns, hedges and bushes shall be kept trimmed to keep them from becoming overgrown and unsightly where exposed to public view, and from constituting a blighting factor depreciating adjoining property and impairing the character of the neighborhood. Lawns shall be considered overgrown and unsightly when grass exceeds eight inches in height.
Sidewalks damaged by roots of a Township-owned or- supplied tree must be repaired within 30 days of notification by the Township designated official.
Vacant land. Vacant land zoned or used for residential, commercial or industrial use is subject to the provisions of this chapter and any other relating chapter for the Township of Woolwich, relating to the removal of refuse, garbage and weeds. The Code Official is hereby authorized and directed, in addition to other Township officials, to initiate and receive complaints with respect to such conditions, as they affect the value and character of building development in the township.
[Adopted 12-21-2015 by Ord. No. 2015-25[1]]
Editor's Note: Editor's Note: This ordinance also repealed former Article II, Vacant, Abandoned and Foreclosed Properties, adopted 9-3-2013 by Ord. No. 2013-06.
The purpose of this article is to establish a program for identifying and registering vacant, abandoned and foreclosed properties; to establish the responsibilities of owners of vacant, abandoned or foreclosed properties, and to ensure that vacant, abandoned and foreclosed properties are maintained in compliance with applicable Township, county, state and federal codes. It is the municipality's further intent to participate in the county-wide registration program established by Gloucester County 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 vacant, abandoned and foreclosed properties.
The Township Committee finds, determines and declares that buildings and property which remain vacant and unoccupied for any appreciable period of time become a harborage for rodents, an invitation for illegal occupancy and for illegal activities, as well as a fire hazard, and that unkempt grounds surrounding the property invite dumping and rubbish thereon, that such buildings become dilapidated, contribute to commercial and residential blight, depress market values of surrounding property, require additional government services, endanger the public safety and health, and generally remain detrimental to the public good. Unsupervised vacant/abandoned or foreclosed properties have a negative impact on surrounding properties and neighborhoods. Owners of such structures and property should be held accountable for the physical condition of the property.
This article establishes responsibilities of owners of the vacant, abandoned and or foreclosed properties and structures and provides for administration and enforcement of standards related to such property and structures. This article incorporates the International Property Maintenance Code and all applicable federal, state and local building and fire codes. This article shall apply to all vacant, abandoned or foreclosed property and/or structure within Woolwich Township.
It is in the public interest for the Township to establish minimum standards of accountability for the owners or other responsible parties of vacant, abandoned and foreclosed properties in order to protect the health, safety and welfare of the residents of the Township.
It is in the public interest for the Township to impose a reasonable administrative fee in conjunction with registration of vacant, abandoned and foreclosed properties in light of the disproportionate costs imposed on the Township by the presence of these properties.
Any real property located in the municipality, whether vacant or occupied, that is in default on a mortgage with 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 tax deed or pending tax assessors 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 with its corresponding lis pendens rescinded.
A property that is accessible through a compromised/breached gate, fence, wall, etc., or a structure that is unsecured in such a way as to allow easy access to the interior space by unauthorized persons.
Codes including, but not limited to, the municipality's Zoning Code and General Code, International Property Maintenance Code, and the New Jersey Building Code.
Properties that have broken or severely damaged windows, doors, wall, and/or roofs which create hazardous conditions and/or encourage trespassing; or
Properties cited for a public nuisance; or
Properties that endanger the public's health, safety, or welfare because the properties or the improvements thereon are dilapidated, deteriorated, violate minimum health and safety standards, or lack maintenance per applicable codes.
An owner of property subject to a mortgage, who grants a lien or equitable interest in property as security for the payment of a debt.
Any law enforcement officer, building official, zoning officer, code enforcement officer, fire or building inspector, or other person authorized by the municipality to enforce the applicable codes.
Any condition that on its own, or combined with other conditions, would lead a reasonable person to believe the property is vacant. Such conditions include, but are not limited to, overgrown or dead vegetation, accumulation of newspapers, circulars, flyers or mail, past-due utility notices and/or disconnected utilities, accumulation of trash, junk or debris, broken or boarded-up windows, abandoned vehicles, the absence of window coverings, such as curtains, blinds or shutters, the absence of furnishings or personal items consistent with habitation or occupation, and statements by neighbors, passersby, delivery agents or government employees that the property is vacant.
The process by which a mortgage is enforced against a parcel of real property through sale or offering for sale to satisfy the debt of the borrower.
A person or entity holding a mortgage on a property.
An individual, partnership, association, corporation, company, titleholder, fiduciary, or other legal entity having a legal or equitable title or any interest in real property. This term shall also apply to any person, legal entity or agent responsible for the construction, maintenance or operation of the property involved.
A person or entity that has foreclosed upon a mortgage on a property but may not have legal or equitable title.
A visual inspection to check the minimum requirements as set forth in the currently applicable International Property Maintenance Code for sanitary maintenance, life safety, other obvious hazards and code violations. Such inspections will be done in accordance with a checklist maintained by the Township.
Anything constructed or erected, the use of which requires location on or attachment to the ground, and includes buildings.
Pursuant to the provisions of this article, the municipality or designee shall participate in the county-wide registration program established by Gloucester County and administered by Community Champions Corporation cataloging each abandoned property within the municipality, containing the information required by this article.
Any mortgagee that holds a mortgage on real property located with the municipality of Woolwich Township shall perform an inspection of the property to determine vacancy or occupancy, upon default by the mortgagor and the recordation of a lis pendens. The mortgagee shall within 10 days of the inspection, register the property with the Code Enforcement Department, 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 registration to a vacancy status on forms provided by the municipality.
This section shall also apply to properties that have been the subject of a foreclosure sale where the title was transferred to the beneficiary of a mortgage in the foreclosure and any properties transferred under a deed in lieu of foreclosure or sale.
Properties subject to this section shall remain under the annual registration requirement and the inspection, security and maintenance requirements of this section as long as they remain vacant or in default.
Failure to properly register or to modify the registration form from time to time to reflect a change of circumstances as required by this section is a violation of this article and shall be subject to enforcement and penalties.
All fees applicable to this article may be revised by resolution of the Township Committee. Registration and inspection fees shall be paid at the time of submitting the registration affidavit. There shall also be a fee for the filing of any additional or new owner's affidavit, with such fee being set by resolution of the Township Committee. For properties that are not registered within the required time frame, an additional fee for the added cost of the Township's expenses in having to determine ownership, which may include, but is not limited to title searches, shall be assessed and is immediately payable. The payment of all fees under this article is secured by a lien against the property, which may be placed on the tax roll for collection in the same manner and subject to the same interest and penalties applicable to delinquent special assessments.
If the foreclosed-upon vacant or abandoned vacant property includes vacant or unoccupied buildings, the owner of that property is responsible for immediately obtaining and paying for the Township's safety and maintenance inspection (as defined herein) of the building and property, obtaining necessary permits, making required repairs and obtaining inspections from the Township annually thereafter until the building is lawfully occupied, to ensure the buildings are safe, secure and well maintained. The owner shall demonstrate that all water, sewer, electrical, gas, HVAC and plumbing systems, exterior finishes and walls, concrete surfaces, accessory buildings and structures, swimming pools and spas, roofing, structural systems, foundation and drainage systems, gutters, doors, windows, driveways, and sidewalks are sound, operational or properly disconnected.
If an owner fails or refuses to complete the inspections required by Subsection A of this section, the possessory lender shall be obligated to complete the inspection upon foreclosure of the property. Additionally, any lender who holds a mortgage on the property located within Woolwich Township shall obtain and pay for the inspection pursuant to Subsection A of this section, to the extent permitted by law, or under the mortgage of the property that is the security for the mortgage, upon default by the borrower, within five days after either the filing of a complaint for foreclosure (if foreclosure is by judicial action) or publishing a notice of foreclosure (if foreclosure is by advertisement.)
All owners, possessory lenders, and lenders (to the extent permitted by law or the terms of a mortgage), are responsible for compliance with the requirements of this section which apply to all vacant property from the time of vacancy, including the time between vacancy and when registration is required.
The property shall be kept free from weeds, grass, dry brush, overgrown brush and dead vegetation in accordance with International Property Maintenance Code, as well as trash, junk, debris, building materials, and accumulation of newspaper, circulars, fliers, notices, except those required by federal, state or local law, discarded items, including, but not limited to, furniture, clothing, large and small appliances, printed material, signage, containers, equipment, construction materials or any other items that give the appearance that the property is abandoned.
The property shall be maintained free from graffiti, tagging or similar markings by removal or painting over with an exterior grade paint that matches the color of the exterior of the surface.
All front, side and rear yards shall be properly maintained. Landscaping includes, but is not limited to, grass, ground cover, bushes, trees, shrubs, hedges or similar plantings. Maintenance includes, but is not limited to, regular watering, irrigation, cutting, pruning and mowing of required grasses and landscaping and removal of trimmings.
Pools, spas and other water features shall be kept drained and kept dry and free from debris. In either case, properties with pools and/or spas must comply with the minimum security fencing and barrier requirements of applicable construction, building and property maintenance codes and ordinances.
Property shall be maintained in a secure manner so as not to be accessible to unauthorized persons. "Secure manner" includes, but is not limited to, the closure and locking of windows, doors, gates, and any other openings of such size that may allow a child to access the interior of the property and/or structures. Broken windows must be repaired or replaced within 30 days. Boarding up of open or broken windows is prohibited, except as a temporary measure.
Owners shall inspect or cause the inspection of vacant property on a regular basis to verify compliance with this section and other applicable laws. If the property is owned by a person other than an individual and/or the lender or possessory lender is located more than 30 miles away, a local property management company shall be contracted to perform weekly inspections to verify that the requirements of this section and any other applicable laws are being met. The property shall be posted with the name and twenty-four-hour contact telephone number of a property management company located within 30 miles of the subject property. The posting shall be no less than 18 inches by 24 inches and shall be of a seventy-two-point Arial font and shall contain, along with the name and twenty-four-hour contact number, the words: "THIS PROPERTY MANAGED BY AND TO REPORT PROBLEMS OR CONCERNS CALL." The posting shall be placed on the interior of a window facing the street to the front of the property so it is visible from the street or secured to the exterior of the building structure facing the street to the front of the property so that it is visible from the street or, if no such area exists, on a stake of sufficient size to support the posting in a location that is visible from the street to the front of the property, but not readily accessible to vandals. The local property management company shall inspect the property on a regular basis to determine if the property is in compliance with the requirements of this section.
Failure of the mortgagee or owner to properly maintain the property may result in a violation of the applicable codes and issuance of a citation or notice of violation in accordance with the International Property Maintenance Code and the Municipal Code. Pursuant to a finding and determination by the municipality's Code Enforcement Officer and/or designee, the municipality may take the necessary action to ensure compliance with this section.
In addition to the above, the property is required to be maintained in accordance with all applicable codes.
If a building is fire damaged, the owner or possessory lender has 90 days from the date of the fire to apply for a permit to start construction or demolition. An additional ninety-day extension may be granted by the Township, provided the owner or possessory lender can demonstrate substantial progress toward completing repairs. Failure to do so will result in the property being deemed vacant and/or abandoned and subject to the requirements of this article.
If the owner, lender or possessory lender has failed to secure the property and it has been secured by the Township, the Township or its contracted agent may reenter the structure to conduct necessary inspections to assure compliance with the requirements of this Code and to determine if there are emergency or hazardous health and safety conditions in existence.
[Amended 5-16-2016 by Ord. No. 2016-08]
A vacant building or structure on abandoned or foreclosed property shall not be occupied until all violations have been corrected in accordance with the violation or correction notices issued and a certificate of occupancy has been issued by the Township Construction Office. All mechanical, electrical, plumbing and structural systems shall be certified by a licensed contractor as being in good repair, the provisions of the International Property Maintenance Code, or its successor, complied with and all blight removed. In addition, a certificate of occupancy shall not be issued until all outstanding cost, assessments and/or liens owed to the Township have been paid in full.
Any person who violates any provision of this article or the rules and regulations issued hereunder shall be fined not less than $100 and not more than $1,000 for each offense. Every day that a violation continues shall constitute a separate and distinct offense. Fines assessed under this article shall be recoverable from the owner as defined herein and shall be a lien on the property.
For purpose of this section, failure to file a registration affidavit within 30 calendar days after a building becomes vacant property or within 30 calendar days after assuming ownership of a vacant property, whichever is later, or within 10 calendar days of receipt of notice by the Township, and failure to provide correct information on the registration affidavit, or failure to comply with the provisions of this article or such provisions contained herein shall be deemed to be violations of this article.
Any person who opposes, obstructs, or resists any enforcement officer or any person authorized by the enforcement office in the discharge of duties as provided in this article shall be punished as provided in the applicable codes 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 herein.