(A) Storage or parking of internal combustion engine vehicle or equipment.
(1) General. No person shall store or park, or cause to store or park, any internal combustion engine, vehicle or equipment (including but not limited to: motorcycle, moped, dirt bike, lawnmower, weed trimmer, snow blower or any such equipment) within or on any apartment or multifamily dwelling unit, porch, balcony, covered patio, entrance, exit, common area, laundry room, basement or mechanical room, or any other private area of an apartment or multifamily dwelling.
(2) Exception: approved storage areas designated and constructed with the required fire separation as required by the New Jersey Uniform Construction Code in effect at the time of the building’s construction.
(B) Barbeques and Open Burning.
(1) Barbeques. No person shall operate, use or maintain any open fire or any device commonly known as a “barbeque” in or on any apartment unit, porch, balcony, patio or any other private area of an apartment or multiple-family dwelling unit. The Fire Official may, upon application made, exempt any person from the provisions of this section, provided that the request is made in writing and the Fire Official certifies that the procedures are safe in regard to fire protection and fire prevention standards, which standards are incorporated into this code.
(2) Applicability.
(a) This article applies to all outdoor burning and open burning in the Township of Voorhees.
(b) This article does not apply to grilling or cooking food using permanently installed and approved appliances.
(c) This article does not apply to burning for the purpose of generating heat in a stove, furnace, fireplace or other approved and properly installed heating device within a building used for human or animal habitation.
(d) This article does not apply to the use of propane, acetylene, natural gas, gasoline, or kerosene in an approved device intended for heating, construction, or maintenance activities, as such they are being utilized in accordance with their intended purpose in a safe manner.
(3) Definitions. As used in this article, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
CAMPFIRE. A small outdoor fire intended for recreation or cooking, but not including a fire intended for the disposal of waste wood or refuse.
CLEAN WOOD. Natural wood which has not been painted, varnished, or coated with a similar material; has not been pressure-treated with preservatives; and does not contain resins or glues as in plywood or other composite wood products.
CONSTRUCTION AND DEMOLITION WASTE. Building waste materials, including but not limited to waste shingles, insulation, lumber, treated wood, painted wood, wiring, plastics, packaging, and rubble that results from construction, remodeling repair, and demolition operation on a house, commercial or industrial building, or other structure.
FIRE OFFICIAL. The Fire Official for the Township of Voorhees, or other person designated by the Fire Official.
MUNICIPALITY. The Township of Voorhees.
OPEN BURNING. Kindling or maintaining a fire where the products of combustion are emitted directly into the ambient air without passing through a stack or chimney. This includes burning in a burn barrel.
OUTDOOR BURNING. Open burning or burning in an outdoor wood-fired boiler or patio wood-burning unit.
PATIO WOOD-BURNING UNIT. A Chiminea, patio warmer, outdoor fireplace or other portable wood-burning device used for outdoor recreation and/or heating.
REFUSE. Any waste material, except trees, logs, brush, stumps, leaves, grass clippings, and other vegetative matter.
(4) General Prohibition. Open burning and outdoor burning are prohibited in the Township of Voorhees unless the burning is specifically permitted by this article.
(5) Open burning of refuse. Open burning of refuse is prohibited.
(6) Burning trees, logs, brush, stumps, leaves, and grass clippings. Open burning of trees, logs, brush, stumps, leaves and grass clippings is prohibited.
(7) Outdoor wood-fired boilers. No person shall install, use, or maintain an outdoor wood-fired boiler in the Township of Voorhees, unless approved by permit through the construction official.
(8) Patio wood-burning units. A patio wood-burning unit may be installed and used in the Township of Voorhees, only in accordance with all of the following provisions.
(a) The patio wood-burning unit shall not be used to burn refuse.
(b) The patio wood-burning unit shall burn only clean, dry wood.
(c) The patio wood-burning unit shall be located at least 15 feet from the nearest structure which is not on the same property as the patio wood-burning unit. The unit shall not be located less than 10 feet from combustible structures on the same property or on any decks, porches or balconies.
(d) The patio wood-burning unit and its by-products shall not cause a nuisance to neighbors.
(e) It must be in an approved container with an ember-suppressing lid. (Stone/block fire pits must have a lid or screen.)
(f) The use of flammable liquids and accelerants is prohibited.
(g) Trees, brush, grass, leaves, or other natural material is prohibited.
(h) It must have a working garden hose stretched to the fire place or an approved fire extinguisher within 10 feet.
(9) [Reserved.]
(10) Liability. A person utilizing or maintaining an outdoor fire shall be responsible for all fire-suppression costs and other liability resulting from damage caused by the fire.
(11) Right of entry and inspection. The Fire Official, his/her designee may inspect any property for the purpose of ascertaining compliance with the provisions of this article.
(12) Enforcement; violations and penalties.
(a) The Fire Official, his/her designee and the Township of Voorhees are authorized to enforce the provisions of this article.
(b) The Fire Official, at any time and with just cause, has the right to revoke a permit.
(c) Any person, firm, association, partnership, corporation, or governmental entity who or which violates any of the provisions of this article or fails to comply with a duly authorized order issued pursuant to this article shall be deemed responsible for a municipal civil infraction, which shall be punishable by a civil fine of no less than $50.00 and no more than $100.00.
(d) The violator shall pay costs, which may include all expenses, direct and indirect, which the Township of Voorhees has incurred in connection with the municipal infraction. In no case, however, shall costs of less than $50.00 or more than $100.00 be ordered. In addition the Township of Voorhees shall have the right to proceed in any court of competent jurisdiction for the purpose of obtaining an injunction, restraining order, or other appropriate remedy to compel compliance with this article. Each day that a violation of this article exists shall constitute a separate violation of this article.
(C) Insurance reports for fire-damaged buildings; time limit.
(1) All Owners, lessees or tenants of any building or structure damaged by fire and subjected to assistance from the Fire Department in the Township of Voorhees shall report to said Fire Department the name and address of the fire insurance carrier, the name and address of the insurance agent on such policy and the policy limits of coverage. This information shall be supplied to the Fire Official within five days of the date of the fire in question.
(D) Fire Hydrants.
(1) It shall be unlawful to obscure from view, damage, deface, obstruct or restrict the access to any fire hydrant or any fire department connection for the pressurization of fire suppression systems, including fire hydrants that are located on private streets and access lanes or on private property. The clear space shall be defined as a minimum of 3' in any direction of a fire hydrant or fire department connection, or as defined and requested by the Fire Official for efficient access. The Fire Official or his designee may assess, levy and collect penalties and or fines to ensure compliance. If the obstructions or encroachments are not removed, the Fire Official shall proceed to remove the same. Costs incurred in the performance of necessary work shall be paid from the Township of Voorhees on certificate of the Fire Official and with the Approval of Township Committee; and the Township shall institute appropriate action for the recovery of such costs.
(2) [Reserved.]
(3) No person shall tamper with, connect to, turn on, adjust, damage or attempt to tamper with, connect to, open, turn on or adjust any fire hydrant owned by or connected to the Township water system. Authorization must be received by the Fire Chief, or authorized representative of the Township of Voorhees and NJ American Water to access any hydrant in the Township.
(4) Fire Hydrants shall be of the size and type as designated by the Fire Official.
(5) The current minimum standard for hydrants in the Township of Voorhees shall be Mueller Super Centurion model with two (2) 2 ½" National Standard Thread Side Caps, and one (1) 5" Storz front main steamer connection. If the water available at the installation location is greater than the output of the hydrant specified, the Fire Official or his/her designee may specify a hydrant with additional outputs to allow maximum use of available water supply.
(6) All existing private hydrants must be brought in compliance with this standard upon annual inspection of the premises.
(7) All existing NJ American Water hydrants shall be requested to meet this standard as quickly as reasonably possible, upon a schedule approved by the Fire Official.
(E) Rapid Entry Key Systems.
(1) All Buildings with an automatic fire alarm or sprinkler system or with roll down shutters or grates are required to have a rapid access key box installed at the expense of the owner or occupant of the structure, in an accessible location to be approved by the Fire Official, or his/her designee. The key box shall be a type approved by the Fire Official and shall be installed in a manner approved by the Fire Official or his/her designee. The key box needs to be of a size necessary to meet the needs of the building or complex and shall contain the following pertinent items:
(a) Updated keys necessary for access to all points of the premises.
(b) Keys to all fire alarm control panels, keys necessary to operate or service fire alarm panels and keys necessary to operate or service fire protection systems.
(c) Electronic Key Cards.
(d) Access codes for doors and fire alarm/protection systems.
(e) Elevator and Emergency information.
(f) Floor Plans.
(g) Any other pertinent information which may be needed in an emergency or as required by the Fire Chief or Fire Official.
(2) Complexes containing multiple buildings shall have a key box installed on each building unless otherwise approved in writing by the Fire Official, which said waiver may be revoked at any time for improved access by the Fire Department. The Fire Official may at his/her discretion grant a waiver to the key box requirement for buildings open and appropriately staffed 24 hours per day.
(3) Access to key boxes shall only be available to authorized emergency personnel and only by the master key. A key inventory shall be maintained by the Voorhees Township Fire Department at least annually to ensure all keys are maintained appropriately.
(4) Any building owner or occupant who fails to install a key box in violation of this chapter, after receiving due notice from the Fire Official, or his/her designee, will be issued a penalty of not less than $100.00. If the violation remains unabated after 30 days from the date that the original violation is issued, a daily penalty of $100.00 will be imposed for each day thereafter that the violation remains unabated.
(5) In the event of an emergency, or the absence of necessary keys, the Voorhees Township Fire Department or such Departments with Mutual Aid Agreements established shall not be liable for damages incurred in the access of such properties.
(F) Fire Watch.
(1) A Fire watch. For this purpose of this chapter, the term “fire watch” shall mean a person assigned to be in an area for the express purpose of notifying the Fire Department of an emergency, preventing a fire from occurring, extinguishing small fires, or protecting the public from fire or life safety dangers addressed in this chapter.
(2) A Fire watch shall be ordered when at any time a building or portion thereof protected by a fire alarm or fire suppression system, has a reduction in the amount of protection normally provided for the building or portion thereof. A fire watch may also be ordered at any time at the discretion of the Fire Official when the safety of occupants in believed to be in an above normal risk of fire or life safety dangers.
(3) A Fire watch shall be performed by a person appropriately trained and competent to handle the assigned fire watch, and complete all required documentation in accordance with paperwork and policy to be obtained from the Fire Official or his/her designee.
(4) In the event the occupant/ owner are unable to adequately perform the functions of fire watch to the satisfaction of the Fire Official or his/her designee. A member of the Fire Department shall be assigned to the function at a fee set forth in section § 94.08.
(5) A Fire watch may only be terminated with permission of the Fire Official or his/her designee. This is typically only once all prior fire protection has been restored and the building or a portion thereof is declared safe for normal operations.
(G) Signs, Labeling and Identification.
(1) All doorway entrances shall have printed thereon, in block letters at least three inches high, and approximately six inches from the top of the doorway, in conspicuously contrasting colors, the name of the commercial establishment located therein; provided however, that there shall be exempt from this requirement such main entrance(s) as are otherwise conspicuously and clearly marked with the identity of the commercial establishment located therein. It is the intent of this provision that emergency personnel arriving at the scene of a fire or other emergency have immediate identification of access routes to commercial occupancies located in a particular commercial building or buildings. This shall include the rear entrances to all occupancies as well, inclusive of those for employees only.
(2) All occupancies with multiple occupants or business suites shall clearly identify all tenants within said space at all times. For residential and commercial properties this may be accomplished by identifying suite or apartment numbers and or letters.
(3) All buildings containing a Fire Department Connection, shall have signs posted that are RED on WHITE, retroreflective and that meet the requirements of the Voorhees Township Fire Prevention Bureau policies on FDC signage, subject at all times to final approval of the Fire Official.
(4) All buildings containing Solar Panels shall have approved signage clearly posted, subject at all times to the approval of the Fire Official.
(5) At all times the Fire Official or his/her designee may require additional signage in order to improve the access by the Fire Department to all properties and any associated building features including but not limited to: Fire Lanes, Roof Access, Alarm Panels, Fire Equipment Rooms, HVAC units, Utility Meters, Elevator Rooms, Mechanical Spaces, Solar Panels, etc.
(H) Fire Lanes (see Chapter 75: Parking Schedules, Schedule V: Fire Zones). The Voorhees Township Fire Department Fire Prevention Bureau shall have Concurrent Jurisdiction with the Voorhees Township Police Department for the enforcement of Fire Lanes in the same manner and in accordance with Chapter 75 of the Voorhees Township Municipal Code.
(I) Nuisance Alarms (see Chapter 100: Alarms). The Voorhees Township Fire Department shall enforce Nuisance Fire Alarms and Carbon Monoxide Alarms in the same manner and in accordance with Chapter 100 of the Voorhees Township Municipal Code.
(J) FEE SCHEDULE:
(1) Business.
USE GROUP | DESCRIPTION | ANNUAL FEE |
USE GROUP | DESCRIPTION | ANNUAL FEE |
B1 | Business Establishments having a gross floor area of 500 square feet or less | $75.00 |
B2 | Business Establishments having a gross floor area of 501 square feet or more but less than 3500 square feet | $125.00 |
B3 | Business Establishments having a gross floor area of 3501 square feet or more but less than 7500 square feet | $175.00 |
B4 | Business Establishments having a gross floor area of 7501 square feet or more but less than 12,000 square feet | $225.00 |
B5 | Business Establishments having a gross floor area of 12,001 square feet or more but less than 24,000 square feet | $375.00 |
B6 | Business Establishments having a gross floor area of 24,001 square feet or more but less than 48,000 square feet | $550.00 |
B7 | Business Establishments having a gross floor area of 48,001 square feet or more | $900.00 |
B8 | Business/Multi. Multiple business occupancy shall include all buildings and structures or parts thereof which are used for the purposes that meet the requirements of use group B and which comprise a multiplicity of rooms, suites or areas to accommodate multiple business occupancies, not to exceed 30 in number, which are rented from a common owner. The owner, who shall control access to all areas, shall provide basic services as are needed for the tenants to conduct their business, at their option. These services may include but are not limited to clerical, phone answering, and message taking, photocopying and reproduction, mail services, security and secretarial and stenographers. | $500.00 |
(2) Mercantile.
USE GROUP | DESCRIPTION | ANNUAL FEE |
M1 | Mercantile establishments having a gross floor area of 500 square feet or less | $75.00 |
M2 | Mercantile establishments having a gross floor area of 501 square feet or more but less than 3500 square feet | $125.00 |
M3 | Mercantile establishments having a gross floor area of 3501 square feet or more but less than 7500 square feet | $200.00 |
M4 | Mercantile establishments having a gross floor area of 7501 square feet or more but less than 12,000 square feet | $250.00 |
(3) Factory.
USE GROUP | DESCRIPTION | ANNUAL FEE |
F1 | Factories having a gross floor area of less than 12,000 square feet | $350.00 |
F2 | Factories having a gross floor area of 12,001 square feet or more but less than 24,000 square feet | $550.00 |
F3 | Factories having a gross floor area of 24,001 square feet or more but less than 48,000 square feet | $800.00 |
F4 | Factories having a gross floor area of 48,001 square feet or more. | $1,000.00 |
(4) Storage.
USE GROUP | DESCRIPTION | ANNUAL FEE |
S1 | Building used for storage with a gross floor area of less than 3500 square feet | $225.00 |
S2 | Building used for storage with a gross floor area of 3501 square feet or more but less than 7500 square feet | $350.00 |
S3 | Building used for storage with a gross floor area of 7501 square feet or more but less than 12,000 square feet | $450.00 |
S4 | Building used for storage with a gross floor area of 12,001 square feet or more but less than 24,000 square feet | $550.00 |
S5 | Building used for storage with a gross floor area of 24,001 square feet or more but less than 48,000 square feet | $750.00 |
S6 | Building used for storage with a gross floor area of 48,001 square feet or more | $1,000.00 |
(5) Residential.
R1 | Apartments and Condominiums (common areas only) | $15.00/unit |
Certificate of Fire Code status shall be: $25.00.
Returned Check Fees: Thirty Five Dollars, ($35.00) or the actual costs of recovery, whichever is higher.
Fire Watch: eighty-five dollars ($85.00/hour/ff) per hour per firefighter assigned.
Exclusive Fire Safety Training: One Hundred and Fifty Dollars $150.00 per hour.
Civil Court Appearance and Depositions: $150.00 per hour, with a minimum four-hour block and 53 cents per mile plus tolls for distances exceeding 25 miles.
Investigative Conferences and Meetings: $85.00 per hour.
Site Plan / Subdivision Plan Reviews: $100.00 for each review.
After Hours Inspections:
Hours | Amount |
1 or less | $150 |
1 to 4 hours | $300 |
4 to 8 hours | $500 |
The minimum penalties shall be as follows:
(a) [Reserved.]
(b) First Offense - $100.00 per violation and a Dedicated Penalty of Equal Amount per violation.
(c) Second Offense - $250.00 per violation.
(d) Third Offense - $500.00 per violation.
Permit Fees:
USER TYPE | FEE |
USER TYPE | FEE |
Type 1 | $100 |
Type 2 | $400 |
Type 2 Propane Exchange | |
720 pounds or less | $166 |
721 pounds or 2,500 pounds | $355 |
Type 3 | $600 |
Type 4 | $800 |
Delinquent Fees: $100.00 per violation, per occurrence.
Failure to Install Knox Box: $100.00.
(Ord. 312-17, passed 12-27-17)