File #: 19-1564    Version: 1 Name: Fire Alarms & Fire Alarm Permits
Type: Ordinance Status: Adopted
File created: 9/30/2019 In control: Public Safety
On agenda: 4/21/2020 Final action: 5/6/2020
Title: AN ORDINANCE AMENDING AND SUPPLEMENTING TITLE XX OFFENSES, MISCELLANEOUS OF THE REVISED GENERAL ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, 2000, AS AMENDED AND SUPPLEMENTED BY ADDNG A NEW CHAPTER FOR FALSE FIRE ALARMS, ADDING PENALTIES FOR CONTINUOUS VIOLATIONS REGARDING FALSE FIRE ALARMS, ESTABLISHING REGISTRATION FEES FOR COMMERCIAL AND RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES, AND ESTABLISHING A PROCESS FOR REGISTRATION AND DISTRIBUTION OF FIRE ALARM PERMITS.
Sponsors: Council of the Whole
Title
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING AND SUPPLEMENTING TITLE XX OFFENSES, MISCELLANEOUS OF THE REVISED GENERAL ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, 2000, AS AMENDED AND SUPPLEMENTED BY ADDNG A NEW CHAPTER FOR FALSE FIRE ALARMS, ADDING PENALTIES FOR CONTINUOUS VIOLATIONS REGARDING FALSE FIRE ALARMS, ESTABLISHING REGISTRATION FEES FOR COMMERCIAL AND RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES, AND ESTABLISHING A PROCESS FOR REGISTRATION AND DISTRIBUTION OF FIRE ALARM PERMITS.

body

WHEREAS, the Department of Public Safety, Division of Fire wishes to regulate the use of fire alarm systems for commercial, residential and hi-rise buildings owners to comply with maintaining their fire alarm systems and permits to avoid multiple false alarms; and

WHEREAS, in the year of 2019 an estimated 2,834 false alarms occurred in the City; and

WHEREAS, false fire alarms contribute to the wear and tear of fire apparatus and fuel consumption for non-emergencies; and

WHEREAS, false fire alarms leave areas of the City of Newark without fire division coverage for true emergencies; and

WHEREAS, the Mayor and Director of the Department of Public Safety believe it is in the best interest of the City to ensure that commercial, residential, and hi-rise locations are complying with fire alarm permits; and

WHEREAS, the Municipal Council concurs that it is in the best interest of the City of Newark to adopt this False Fire Alarm and Fire Alarm Permit Ordinance.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE MUNICIPAL COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, THAT:

Section 1: PURPOSE

The purpose of this Chapter is to encourage alarm users and alarm companies to properly use and maintain operational effectiveness of alarm systems in order to prevent and reduce or eliminate false alarms. The Fire Division responses by the use of fire alarm systems by regulating the duration of the sound of the alarm, by preventing unnecessary false alarms and by requiring that such alarms be d...

Click here for full text