AN ORDINANCE CREATING NEW CHAPTER 86D ENTITLED “RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE SEWER CONNECTION AND SERVICE LATERAL REPAIRS” OF THE CODE OF THE CITY OF GLOUCESTER CITY, COUNTY OF CAMDEN AND STATE OF NEW JERSEY WHEREAS, the City of Gloucester City (“City”) is a municipal corporation organized and operating under the laws of the State of New Jersey; and WHEREAS, pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40:48-2, the Governing Body is authorized to enact and amend ordinances as deemed necessary for the preservation of the public health, safety and welfare and as may be necessary to carry into effect the powers and duties conferred and imposed upon the City by law; and WHEREAS, pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40:41A-28, municipalities under the general law of the State of New Jersey may employ services and facilities for more effective, efficient, and adequate provision of services if and when municipalities may deem it desirable to do so and municipalities are and shall remain the broad repository of local police power in terms of the right and power to legislate for the general health, safety and welfare of their residents; and WHEREAS , the Mayor and City Council of the City of Gloucester City desire to amend Chapter 86A of the Code of the City of Gloucester City. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED, by the Mayor and Common Council of the City of Gloucester City, County of Camden and State of New Jersey as follows: Section 1 : The subject ordinance shall be amended as follows: § 86D-1 Responsibility for the Sewer Connection and Service Lateral Repairs The Property Owner shall be responsible for the maintenance of the sewer connection and the service lateral. The owner shall be responsible for the repair and maintenance of the service lateral, from the Building/structure/house to the Sewer Main, including the vent or cleanout and cap, and shall be held liable for any damage or extra costs to the sewer system and/or Sewer Department, as a result of damage to or obstruction of the service lateral or for failure to maintain the service lateral and/or the sewer system caused by tampering or other act of neglect of the property owner or other user of the property, including, without limitation, tampering or other act or neglect in the maintenance or use of the owner's service lateral. The owner shall keep the service lateral in good repair and protect it from damage which might permit the entrance into it/entry of any liquids or solids not originating in the building which it serves. All leaks, breaks or clogs in the lateral shall be reported promptly to the Sewer Dept. Repairs to the service lateral shall be subject to the same requirements and same inspection as provided for new service lateral connection. § 86D-2 Blockages All Blockages and other emergency situations should be reported to the sewer system as soon as possible, and the Gloucester City Department of Utilities will provide emergency assistance with a courtesy plunge at the trap/cleanout, as long as it is accessible, and will follow all policies as defined in the Gloucester City Utilities Rules and Regulations Manual. Section 2 : All prior ordinances inconsistent with this ordinance are repealed only to the extent of such inconsistency. Section 3 : If any section, subsection, paragraph, sentence or other part of this Ordinance is adjudged unconstitutional or invalid, such judgment shall not affect, impair or invalidate the remainder of this Ordinance, but shall be confined in its effect to the section, subsection, paragraph, sentence or other part of this Ordinance directly involved in the controversy in which said judgment shall have been rendered and all other provisions of this Ordinance shall remain in full force and effect. Section 4 : This Ordinance shall take effect immediately upon final adoption and publication in the manner prescribed by law. PUBLIC MEETING NOTICE is hereby given that the foregoing ORDINANCE was introduced and passed at a meeting of the Common Council of the City of Gloucester City, County of Camden, New Jersey, held on the 29th day of January, 2026 and will be considered for final passage after a public hearing at a meeting of the Common Council of the City of Gloucester City to be held on February 23, 2026, 313 Monmouth Street, Gloucester City, New Jersey. Copies of the full ordinance as introduced are available without cost to any member of the general public during regular business hours from the Office of the City Clerk, 512 Monmouth Street, Gloucester City, New Jersey 08030, phone number being (856) 456-0205. Vanessa L. Little, City Clerk Dated:2/4/26 Prt's Fee:$70.80 Affidavit Fee:$5.00
