Bureau of Housing Inspections
Hernan Lopez, Housing Official
Phone No. 201-531-7182
Phone No. 201-362-1942
Fax No. 201-939-6945
housing@carlstadtnj.us
The Carlstadt Bureau of Housing Inspection administers the New Jersey Hotel and Multiple Dwelling Law (N.J.S.A. 55:13A-1 et seq.) (Hereafter called “The Act”). The Carlstadt Housing is responsible for ensuring that hotels and multiple-family buildings of three or more dwelling units are properly maintained and do not pose a threat to the health, safety, and welfare of their Visitors, Tenants or Owners, nor the community in general.
To achieve these objectives, the Act requires that the Carlstadt Housing conduct a five year cyclical inspection of these properties. The Carlstadt Housing has thereby been given the authority to enforce the New Jersey Regulations for the Maintenance of Hotels and Multiple Dwellings and
where applicable, Subchapter 4 of the New Jersey Uniform Fire Code, by issuing citations for the violation of these requirements.
Under this Act, Condominiums, Cooperatives and Mutual Housing Corporations fall within the definition of multiple dwelling and as such, are subject to its provisions. Under the Regulations, the Condominium Association, Cooperative or Mutual Housing Corporation, is for the most part
considered to have the responsibilities of the “owner” as described in the Act, and is responsible for the registration of each building and for the correction of all cited violations.
REGISTER YOUR HOTEL OR MULTIPLE DWELLING
Owners of hotels, motels and multiple dwellings are responsible for registering their buildings with the Carlstadt Bureau of Housing Inspection.
To receive an application form call 201-531-7182 or 201-362-1942
EXCEPTIONS
Condominiums, Cooperatives, Mutual Housing Corporations. Though the Hotel and Multiple Dwelling Law provides that multiple dwelling buildings having a condominium or cooperative or mutual housing corporation form of ownership are under the Bureau’s jurisdiction, the law also exempts sections of such buildings that: 1) contain not more than four dwelling units, 2) have at least two exterior walls unattached to any adjoining building section and where attached, are attached exclusively by fire-resistant rated walls, and 3) contain dwelling units that are owner-occupied (if both owner- and non-owner-occupied units are contained therein, only the owner-occupied units are exempt).
FEE SIMPLE OWNERSHIP
The term “Fee Simple” refers to each unit being owned individually and not in the condominium or cooperative form of ownership. The bureau’s policy regarding fee simple ownership in townhouse developments is as follows. 1) Developments involving fee simple ownership are not subject to the Hotel and Multiple Dwelling Law where the association has no residential building maintenance responsibility; however, in such cases, the association must provide the bureau with sufficient documentation demonstrating that ownership is fee simple and that individual owners, and not the association, are directly responsible for maintenance of the residential building (Documentation must include references to documents such as the association by-laws or contractual agreements between association and owner); 2) the term “common area”, should be clearly defined; for example the association may consider common area as property not directly associated with the residential building such as a pool, parking lot or lawn, however, common area may also be hallways, basements or exterior parts of the residential building such as siding, windows, doors or roof.
If the association is responsible for the maintenance of common areas involving the residential building(s), the Carlstadt Bureau of Inspections must inspect the development.
All requests for exemption by way of fee simple ownership must be in writing and submitted with all the required documentation as described above to the Carlstadt Bureau of Housing Inspection, 500 Madison Street, Carlstadt, NJ 07072. Requests may also be faxed to 201-939-6945. Once a determination is made, approval or denial will provided in writing.
For more information about registration and inspections please call Housing Official Hernan Lopez.