N.J. Admin. Code § 5:23-2.31

Current through Register Vol. 56, No. 24, December 18, 2024

Section 5:23-2.31 - Compliance

(a) If the notice of violation and orders to terminate have not been complied with, the construction official in addition to any other available remedies likely to bring about compliance, may request the legal counsel of the municipality, or of the joint enforcement agency, or the Attorney General in the case of the State, to institute the appropriate proceeding at law or in equity to restrain, correct, or abate such violation or to require the removal or termination of the unlawful use of the building or structure in violation of the provisions of the regulations or of the order or direction made pursuant thereto.

(b) Penalties:

1. Any person or corporation, including an officer, director or employee of a corporation, shall be subject to a penalty if that person:

i. Violates any of the provisions of the act or the regulations;

ii. Constructs a structure or building in violation of a condition of a building permit;

iii. Fails to comply with any order issued by an enforcing agency or the department;

iv. Makes a false or misleading written statement, or omits any required information or statement in any application or request for approval to an enforcing agency or the department.

2. Anyone who knowingly refuses entry or access to an inspector lawfully authorized to inspect any premises, building or structure pursuant to the act or the regulations, or who unreasonably interferes with such an inspection, shall be subject to a fine of not more than $ 250.00.

3. With respect to (b)1iii above, a person shall be guilty of a separate offense for each day that he fails to comply with a stop construction order validly issued by an enforcing agency or the department and for each week that he fails to comply with any other order validly issued by an enforcing agency or the department. With respect to (b)1i and iv above, a person shall be guilty of a separate offense for each violation of any provision of the act or the regulations and for each false or misleading written statement or omission of required information or statement made in any application or request for approval to an enforcing agency or the department. With respect to (b)1ii above, a person shall be guilty of a separate offense for each violation of conditions of a construction permit.

4. No such penalty shall be assessed except upon notice of violation and orders to terminate and upon the expiration of the time period delineated in the notice; except that in the case of a false or misleading statement pursuant to (b)1iv above, the failure to obtain a construction permit or request required inspections, or allowance of occupancy prior to receipt of a certificate of occupancy, an order to pay a penalty shall be issued immediately upon the discovery of the violation.

5. The construction official may separately serve a notice of penalty assessment and order to pay a penalty.

6. The penalties pursuant to this section may be collected pursuant to the "Penalty Enforcement Law of 1999" (N.J.S.A. 2A:58-10 et seq.). Jurisdiction to enforce such penalties is conferred upon judges of the municipal court and of the Superior Court. Suit may be brought by a municipality or the State of New Jersey. Payment of a money judgment pursuant hereto shall be remitted in the case of a suit brought by a municipality to the municipal treasurer and in the case of a suit brought by the State of New Jersey to the State Treasurer.

(c) The construction official may assess a monetary penalty whenever such shall be likely to assist in bringing about compliance.

(d) Stop construction order:

1. If the construction of a structure or building is being undertaken contrary to the provisions of the regulations, or other applicable laws or ordinances, the enforcing agency may issue a stop construction order in writing which shall state the reasons for such order and the conditions under which construction may be resumed and which shall be given to the owner or the holder of the construction permit or to the person performing the construction. If the person doing the construction is not known, or cannot be located with reasonable effort, the notice may be delivered to the person in charge of, or apparently in charge of, the construction.

2. If, at the time of inspections requested pursuant to N.J.A.C. 5:23-2.18(c), a pattern or practice is identified and documented in writing of the same code violation(s) occurring in most or all of the dwelling units inspected within a housing development, affecting framing, fire safety or structural safety, the construction official may issue a stop construction order for all buildings within the development. A copy of the supporting documentation, including the violations, citations, and blocks and lots, shall be given to the owner or responsible person in charge of the project. A copy of the stop construction order shall be forwarded to the Department as per N.J.A.C. 5:23-4.5(h)1 xi. Relief from any such stop construction order may be conditioned upon submission to the enforcing agency of an acceptable supervision and management plan. This plan shall include the institution of quality controls to ensure that the pattern of violations does not continue and the identification of qualified personnel to implement the plan. If the plan is not submitted within five business days of the issue date of the stop construction order, the order shall take effect.

3. No person shall continue, or cause to allow to be continued, the construction of a building or structure in violation of a stop construction order, except with the permission of the enforcing agency to abate a dangerous condition or remove a violation, or except by court order.

4. If an order to stop construction is not obeyed, the enforcing agency may apply to the appropriate court as otherwise established by law for an order enjoining the violation of the stop construction order. The remedy for violation of such an order provided in this subsection shall be in addition to, and not in limitation of, any other remedies provided by law.

(e) Penalties may be levied by an enforcing agency as follows:

1. Up to $ 1,000 per violation for failure or refusal to comply with any lawful order, unless the failure or refusal to comply is done with the knowledge that it will endanger the life or safety of any person, in which case the penalty shall be up to $ 2,000 per violation;

2. Up to $ 2,000 per violation for failure to obtain a required permit prior to commencing construction or for allowing a building to be occupied without a certificate of occupancy;

3. Up to $ 2,000 per violation for failure to comply with a stop construction order;

4. Up to $ 2,000 per violation for willfully making a false or misleading written statement, or willfully omitting any required information or statement in any application or request for approval;

5. Up to $ 500.00 per violation for any violation not covered under (e)1 through 4 above;

6. For purposes of this subsection, in an occupied building, a code violation involving fire safety, structural soundness or the malfunctioning of mechanical equipment that would pose a life safety hazard shall be deemed to endanger the life or safety of a person. In an unoccupied building, a code violation of a requirement intended to protect members of the public who are walking by the property shall be deemed to endanger the life or safety of a person.

N.J. Admin. Code § 5:23-2.31

Amended by R.2004 d.365, effective 10/4/2004.
See: 36 N.J.R. 2605(a), 36 N.J.R. 4441(a).
In (b), inserted "of 1999" following "Penalty Enforcement Law", amended the N.J.S.A. reference in (6), and substituted "and of the Superior Court" for "in addition to the courts specified by N.J.S.A. 2A:58-2"; added (e).
Amended by R.2007 d.46, effective 2/5/2007.
See: 38 N.J.R. 872(a), 39 N.J.R. 370(b).
Rewrote (d).
Amended by R.2007 d.124, effective 5/7/2007.
See: 38 N.J.R. 3708(a), 39 N.J.R. 1669(a).
In the introductory paragraph of (b), substituted a colon for a semicolon at the end; and in (b)5, deleted ", whenever he shall not have done so in the original notice and orders" following "pay a penalty".
Administrative correction.
See: 40 N.J.R. 113(a).