New Jersey Administrative Code
Title 5 - COMMUNITY AFFAIRS
Chapter 10 - MAINTENANCE OF HOTELS AND MULTIPLE DWELLINGS
Subchapter 1B - INSPECTOR LICENSING
Section 5:10-1B.2 - Types of licenses

Universal Citation: NJ Admin Code 5:10-1B.2

Current through Register Vol. 56, No. 6, March 18, 2024

(a) Any agency created for the purpose of conducting inspections of hotels and multiple dwellings for the purpose of enforcing the Hotel and Multiple Dwelling Law, P.L. 1967, c.76 (55:13A-1 et seq.) must be staffed with individuals who possess the appropriate license(s) issued by the State of New Jersey, Department of Community Affairs. This requirement shall be equally applicable to the Bureau of Housing Inspection and to local enforcing agencies.

1. An enforcing agency that is staffed by a licensed inspector of Hotels and Multiple Dwellings and housing code official may perform all of the functions that are allowed under this chapter, including collecting of fees, conducting inspections, reinspections, assessing penalties, penalty enforcement actions, and other actions provided for under the Act and this chapter.

(b) License types and qualifications are as follows:

1. Inspector of hotels and multiple dwellings, trainee: Persons may apply for licensure, and shall be licensed under this category subject to the compliance with the following requirements:
i. At least one year of full-time experience in the construction industry, in a skilled craft, such as carpenter, electrician, plumber, architectural or engineering draftsman, housing inspector, fire inspector, or building inspector;

ii. An applicant who possesses an associates degree in engineering, code enforcement, or other related field, shall be exempt from the experience requirement; and

iii. A trainee must complete requirements for licensure as an inspector of hotels and multiple dwellings within two years after application for trainee status.

2. Inspector of hotels and multiple dwellings: Persons may apply for licensure, and shall be licensed under this category, subject to compliance with the following requirements:
i. At least three years of full-time experience in a skilled craft or profession in the construction industry, such as carpenter, electrician, plumber, architectural or engineering draftsman, housing inspector, fire inspector, or building inspector; or two years as an inspector trainee;

ii. Successful completion of an approved 60-hour course for inspector of multiple dwellings, referenced under (c) below;

iii. Successful completion of a State uniform test module for licensure as inspector of hotels and multiple dwellings; and

iv. Any candidate who possesses an associate's or bachelor's degree in engineering, code enforcement, or other related discipline is exempt from the course requirement and can substitute education for experience on a year for year basis.

3. Housing code official: Persons holding inspector of hotel and multiple dwellings licensure may apply for licensure, and shall be licensed under this category, subject to compliance with the following requirements:
i. At least four years of full-time experience in a skilled craft or profession in the construction industry, such as engineering or architectural draftsman or inspection work or working as a fire inspector, carpenter, plumber, electrician, or in some other construction trade; or four years of technical experience in housing management or housing code enforcement or one year as a licensed inspector of multiple dwellings.

ii. Successful completion of an approved 60-hour course for housing code official; and

iii. Individuals who possess an associate's or bachelor's degree in engineering, code enforcement or other related discipline may apply for the same exemptions as provided for inspector of multiple dwellings.

4. Special provisions:
i. A person possessing any license issued pursuant to the State Uniform Construction Code Act, 52:27D-119 et seq., or a license as a health officer or as a registered environmental health specialist issued by the Department of Health and Senior Services, or holding permanent classified civil service status as an inspector of multiple dwellings, or a title that the Department determines to be equivalent after review of information submitted by the applicant, as of July 1, 2002 shall be eligible to be licensed as an inspector of hotels and multiple dwellings without regard to the requirement of (b)2 above; provided, however, that any such licensee shall be subject to the requirements of 5:10-1B.6(d) (license revocation) and (e) (continuing education) and 1B.7 (revocation of licensure and alternative sanctions).

ii. Any person possessing a license as a construction or subcode official issued pursuant to the State Uniform Construction Code Act or a license as a health officer or as a registered environmental health specialist issued by the Department of Health and Senior Services, or holding permanent civil service status as administrator of an agency performing inspections of multiple dwellings as of July 1, 2002 shall be eligible to be licensed as a housing code official and inspector of hotels and multiple dwellings without regard to the requirements of (b)3 above; provided, however, that any such licensee shall be subject to the requirements of 5:10-1B.6(d) (license revocation) and (e) (continuing education) and 1B.7 (revocation of licensure and alternative sanctions).

iii. Any person possessing a certification issued pursuant to the State Uniform Fire Safety Act, 52:27D-192 et seq., may perform fire inspections in order to enforce all provisions of the Uniform Fire Safety Act and the Uniform Fire Code, N.J.A.C. 5:70, applicable to hotels and multiple dwellings, in accordance with 5:10-1.3(d), without being licensed under this chapter.

(c) Educational requirements are as follows:

1. Inspector of hotels and multiple dwellings:
i. Understanding and interpreting the provisions of the hotel and multiple dwelling regulations, and other pertinent housing maintenance codes.
(1) Housing:
(A) Administration;

(B) Internal and external maintenance standards;

(C) Occupancy standards;

(D) Utilities and facilities;

(E) Duties and rights of owners and tenants; and

(F) Postings, receivership and legal provisions;

(2) Building:
(A) Light, ventilation and habitable spaces;

(B) Basic structural; and

(C) Fire protection;

(3) Zoning:
(A) Permitted uses;

(B) Definitions;

(C) Restrictions; and

(D) Variances;

(4) Electrical:
(A) Minimum service and appliance; and

(B) Basic circuits;

(5) Plumbing:
(A) Sanitary waste disposal;

(B) Water supply;

(C) Venting; and

(D) Required facilities;

(6) Fire prevention:
(A) Permits requirements;

(B) Maintenance of fire protection equipment; and

(C) Required fire protection installations;

(7) Health and sanitary codes; and

(8) Local codes provisions.

ii. Components of buildings used for residential or commercial purposes including structural, electrical, fire safety and heating and plumbing elements.
(1) Listing of basic components;

(2) Location of basic components; and

(3) Identification and nomenclature;

iii. Housing inspection tools and equipment and how to use same correctly.
(1) Types; and

(2) Care and use of each;

iv. Basic features of residential and commercial blueprints.
(1) Plan views;

(2) Elevation views;

(3) Section views;

(4) Schedules;

(5) Special blow-ups;

(6) Scales and dimensions; and

(7) Architectural symbols;

v. How to read zoning maps and locate properties on same.
(1) Methods of depicting zoning districts;

(2) Zoning map explanatory provisions in zoning ordinance; and

(3) Effect of contiguous zoning districts on each other;

vi. Purposes of related codes and the application of their provisions to the building or housing code requirements.
(1) Enumeration and explanation of purpose related codes;

(2) Areas of overlap;

(3) How they complement the building code; and

(4) Recognition and location of above;

vii. Making thorough and complete inspections for violations of the housing code and accurately report existing violations.
(1) Systematizing inspections;

(2) How and when to inspect;

(3) Proper recordkeeping; and

(4) Reinspections;

viii. Recognize conditions that will impair or prevent compliance that should be reported to supervisor.
(1) Discussion of common conditions; and

(2) Factors contributing to the problems;

ix. Factors that constitute serious threats to safety or health, whether or not these factors make a structure unfit for human habitation, occupancy or use.
(1) Lack of essential facilities or utilities;

(2) Infestation;

(3) Structural instability; and

(4) Recognition and location of above;

x. Accurately identify all violations requiring immediate action or referral.
(1) List of violations that pose immediate hazards; and

(2) Methods of locating and identifying same;

xi. Powers and processes utilized to deal with hazardous conditions and emergency situations.
(1) Authority granted by codes;

(2) Ordering emergency work;

(3) Bids and quotations; and

(4) Documentation and notification;

xii. Relocation resources available to occupants of buildings and dwellings that must be vacated.
(1) Local relocation offices;

(2) Vacancy lists;

(3) Contacts with real estate brokers and landlords;

(4) Personal surveys; and

(5) Social agencies-Red Cross, Salvation Army, etc.;

xiii. Diverse characteristics of the public served and their relation to the work of the housing inspector.
(1) Economic positions;

(2) Social backgrounds;

(3) Cultural backgrounds;

(4) By age and by sex; and

(5) Health and disability status;

xiv. Fundamentals of clear communications:
(1) Report writing, technical and narrative; and

(2) Verbal communication skills;

xv. Proper inspection procedures and complete inspections:
(1) Scheduling of workload;

(2) Systematizing inspections;

(3) Recording of violations, accurately and clearly;

(4) Maintaining records;

(5) Proper form utilization; and

(6) Thorough documentation;

xvi. Proper methods of preparing case records for hearing or court action:
(1) Accurate and precise inspections;

(2) Recordation of all pertinent facts and data;

(3) Pertinent evidentiary research;

(4) Thorough documentation; and

(5) Notification to owners and tenants/users;

xvii. Purpose and fundamentals of hearing process, postings and court action as methods of code enforcement:
(1) Hearings;

(2) Posting premises; and

(3) Basic legal requirements;

xviii. How to testify at hearings and in court:
(1) Documentations that should be available;

(2) How to be a good witness; and

(3) "Do's" and "don'ts" of testifying;

xix. Legal rights of owners and tenants;

xx. When a search warrant is required and how it is obtained:
(1) Specific instances requiring warrants;

(2) Applications to be presented; and

(3) Manner of issuance;

xxi. Duties and legal responsibilities of a good inspector:
(1) Enforcement of applicable codes;

(2) State laws and responsibilities therefor; and

(3) Responsibilities enumerated in codes;

xxii. Technical mathematics, Standard course, calculations and formula used in zoning and housing code work.

2. Housing code official: The listed subjects are additional prerequisites for licensure as a housing code official and reflect a higher level of learning that is commensurate with the additional duties and responsibilities of a code official level.
i. Effective means of obtaining and maintaining liaison between the housing and building inspection agencies and other related agencies, that is, utilizing staff meetings, consultations, sharing information and joint field activities;

ii. Resources to utilize and to develop proper interpretations of technical provision of housing codes;

iii. Analyzing and interpreting the housing code and other code ordinances that apply to buildings;

iv. Building construction materials, methods and techniques:
(1) Various construction materials and their uses;

(2) Structural considerations in the use of various materials; and

(3) Construction methods and specifications;

v. Plan examination for compliance with all codes enforced by the agency:
(1) Systematic approach;

(2) Documents that are required;

(3) Areas of concern;

(4) Use of checklists; and

(5) Corrections and revisions;

vi. Effective cooperation and interaction with municipal officials, agencies, residents and owners and others in carrying out code official duties:
(1) Effective communication and dialogue;

(2) Explanation of and justification of requirements and orders;

(3) Questions and problems most often encountered; and

(4) Effective listening;

vii. Basic principles of supervision and management;

viii. Proper maintenance of records and files;

ix. Writing effective and clear reports and correspondence necessary in carrying out responsibility;

x. Office supervision over procedures that are involved in the processing of housing inspections and complaints;

xi. Steps involved in the administration of housing code program:
(1) Personnel required;

(2) Record requirements and needs;

(3) Budgeting;

(4) Adoption code;

(5) Inspection and enforcement;

(6) Changes and amendments;

(7) Enforcement procedures and penalty actions; and

(8) Case readiness for legal action;

xii. Supervision of complex cases on inspections and case preparation for legal action;

xiii. Effective methods of data processing;

xiv. How to plan all phases of inspection's agencies work:
(1) Records;

(2) Adequate reporting;

(3) Model inspection practices; and

(4) Staff size and equipment;

xv. How to participate in management level policy and planning:
(1) Agenda preparation;

(2) Listing questions and problems;

(3) Areas of concern; and

(4) Factors in evaluation of ideas and options;

xvi. Personnel procedures and rules of the State and local government:
(1) Hiring, recruiting and placements;

(2) Needs assessments, and organization development; and

(3) State and Federal laws governing employment practices;

xvii. Administrative practices, procedures and techniques;

xviii. Evaluation methods and techniques of management.
(1) Obtaining and analyzing information; and

(2) Problem analysis;

xix. Factors involved in the preparation of agency budget:
(1) Estimation of work load, supplies and equipment needs;

(2) Estimation of funds required for emergency services training, conferences, etc.; and

(3) Budget justification;

xx. Legal aspects of the housing inspection agencies, including legal processes and rules of evidence. Legal responsibilities of inspection personnel. Methods of court appeals and legal basis required:
(1) Sources of pertinent laws;

(2) Legal rights, restrictions and limitations; and

(3) Rules of evidence.

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