PUBLIC NOTICE AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 48, SPECIFICALLY, §48-11, ESTABLISHING ADDITIONAL REQUIRED INSPECTIONS AND FEES 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, Chapter 48 of the Administrative Code, specifically §48-11 entitled “Additional Required Inspections and Fees”, sets forth various fees and administrative costs charged by the City and is in need of revision; and WHEREAS, the Mayor and Common Council believe it to be in the best interest of the City’s health, safety and welfare to make certain modifications and amendments to the City Code with respect to Chapter 48, §48-11; and WHEREAS, pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40:48-2, the Mayor and Common Council of the City are 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. 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, that the City Code, shall be amended as follows: SECTION 1: Chapter 48, § 48-1 entitled, “Additional Required Inspections and Fees” only, is hereby revoked and rescinded in its entirety and replaced with the following: §48-11 Additional Required Inspections and Fees Registration and Inspection A. Requirement for Non-Life-Hazard Uses All non-life-hazard uses shall be required to annually register with the Bureau of Fire Prevention. Registration shall be completed by the owner, operator, or responsible party for each building, structure, or premises subject to inspection. All non-life-hazard uses should be inspected annually and/or as per the New Jersey Fire Code. B. Registration Fees The fees set forth in this section shall constitute annual registration fees for non-life-hazard uses and shall be assessed per building, premises, or property based on the applicable use group classification and square footage. Each registration shall remain valid for a period of one (1) year and shall be renewed annually. C. Administrative Basis for Fees All registration fees established under this section are deemed administrative fees and are intended to offset the reasonable costs incurred by the Bureau of Fire Prevention in carrying out its duties. Such costs include, but are not limited to: • Inspection and re-inspection of properties • Recordkeeping and data management • Compliance tracking and enforcement • Pre-incident planning • Interagency coordination • These fees are not intended to generate revenue. D. Existing Fee Schedule Calendar Days from Date of Application for Inspection Fee 10 calendar days or more from date of application $45 9 to 5 calendar days from date of application $90 Fewer than 4 calendar days from date of application $161 Reinspection $50 E. Fee Adjustment Authority The amount of such registration fees may be amended from time to time by resolution of the Mayor and Common Council. F. Vacant Building Registration and Fire Safety Requirements (NEW) 1. Registration Required Any building, other than single family one- and two-family dwelling, that becomes vacant shall be registered with the Bureau of Fire Prevention within thirty (30) days. 2. Annual Registration Fee Vacant buildings shall be subject to an annual registration fee. Such fee is administrative in nature and intended to offset inspection, enforcement, and compliance costs. 3. Inspections Vacant buildings should be inspected periodically, not less than once every twelve (12) months, or more frequently as deemed necessary by the Fire Official. 4. Fire Safety Requirements Owners shall ensure: • Structure is secured • No combustible accumulation exists • No hazardous conditions are present G. Vacant Building Registration Fee Square Footage Fee 0 to 3,999 square feet $72 4000 to 7,999 square feet $85 8,000 to 11,999 square feet $115 Each additional 10,000 feet or part thereof $100 SECTION 2: All Ordinances or parts of Ordinances inconsistent with this Ordinance are hereby repealed to the extent of such inconsistency. SECTION 3: Each section, subsection, sentence, clause, and phrase of this Ordinance is declared to be an independent section, subsection, sentence, clause, and phrase, and finding or holding of any such portion of this Ordinance to be unconstitutional, void, or ineffective for any cause or reason shall not affect any other portion of this Ordinance. SECTION 4: This Ordinance shall be in full force and effect from and after its adoption and any publication as may be required 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 24th day of August, 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 September 28, 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 1xGCN, 9/2/26, Fee:$91.26. Affidavit Fee:$5.00
