Yes, all rental and resales occurring in Westampton Township require a Certificate of Smoke Alarm, Carbon Monoxide Alarm, and Portable Fire Extinguisher Compliance inspection and certificate pursuant to N.J.A.C. 5:70-2.3 and Westampton Township Ordinance Chapter 128. You must fill out our online submission form by clicking "Schedule Your Inspection Here" under the Rental/Resale Inspection tab on the Fire Marshal's page. Upon receipt, an automatic email will be sent from our software provider as well as our scheduler will send an email to set the date approximately two weeks prior to the date of closing.

Yes, there is a fee as disclosed on the Rental/Resale Inspection tab on the Fire Marshal's page. This fee is based upon how far in advance you submit the form to request your inspection. The more time we are given the cheaper the fee. Our Inspectors are checking to see that your smoke alarms are of the correct type, in good working order, installed in the correct locations, and are newer than ten years old. Smoke alarms must be replaced no later than 10 years after installation/manufacture per the manufacturer's recommendation and the National Fire Protection Association. The Inspectors will also check those same requirements for your carbon monoxide alarm and ensure it is installed adjacent to sleeping areas. Finally, we will ensure that a brand new or inspected 2A-10B:C sized fire extinguisher is mounted in the kitchen in the path of egress and address numbers are visible from the street prior to issuing a certificate that is required at the closing of the sale/lease move in date.

You may call the firehouse at (609)267-2041 and select option 1 for the on duty staff to inquire as to the Inspectors estimated time of arrival. Please keep in mind all of our Inspectors are still Firefighter/EMT's and responsible to respond to emergency calls throughout the shift and may not be available at the scheduled time or to answer the phone due to said emergency. This could cause a delay in the scheduled inspection time and depending on the emergency, the appointment may need to be rescheduled.

As of this date, no inspections are currently required by the Fire Department on change of ownership for COMMERCIAL properties. Any resale or rental of a residential property DOES require an inspection from the Fire Department prior to closing.

Yes. All businesses operating in Westampton Township are required to register with the Bureau of Fire Prevention and submit an Occupant Form which lists your emergency contacts prior to opening. These forms can be found by visiting the forms area under the Fire Marshal's tab. Once completed, please return the forms to the Fire Marshal's office via email at vknott@wtes.us Take note that a registration fee is required pursuant to the New Jersey Uniform Fire Code and Westampton Township Fire Prevention Ordinance; that invoice will either come from the Fire Prevention Bureau direct or from the New Jersey Division of Fire Safety. For a list of the local fees please see Westampton Township Fire Prevention Ordinance Chapter 128. An inspection of your business will take place in the following weeks after receiving the returned forms and will not hold up your business from opening.

Most typical businesses are inspected once every calendar year. Several business types require additional interaction for example: Larger daycares are inspected semi-annually, some apartment complexes are inspected on a five-year cyclical inspection, and some large gathering or medical facilities are inspected quarterly.

Yes. Pursuant to the New Jersey Uniform Fire Code N.J.A.C. 5:70-2.7 and the Westampton Township Fire Prevention Ordinance Chapter 128 some activities that may necessitate a permit and inspection dependent on location and type of event being held are: - Bonfires - The use of open-flame devices (think hiring someone to grille during a block party) - Food trucks - Tents greater than 900 ft2 or more than 30ft in any dimension To apply for a permit, visit the forms section under the Fire Marshal's Office tab and choose "Permit Application"

This is a common misconception or myth. There are no provisions in the International Fire Codes that allows a building to exist in an unsafe condition.

If a violation is found that is a maintenance related problem, the Fire Inspector will provide a date (generally 30 days) to correct the violation. If the violation can be corrected during the inspection, it will be noted on the inspection form that the correction has already taken place. If a violation is found that will require the alteration or installation of new equipment or safety features or necessitates interaction from the Construction Official, the Fire Inspector will indicate this on the report, and provide a date to submit a written proposal to the Fire Marshal's Office that will include an anticipated date that you can make the necessary corrections. Each written request is evaluated on a case-by-case basis depending on the type of repair/installation that is needed. If the request is within a reasonable time limit, and a reasonable level of safety can be maintained, an extension to comply will generally be granted. In these instances, please visit the Fire Subcode page under the Fire Marshal's Office tab on our website or the Construction Departments page on the Westampton Township's website.

Once a Fire Inspector notifies you of a fire code violation, they will notify you and issue an inspection report requiring the conditions are corrected immediately. A re-inspection will be scheduled to verify compliance based upon the schedule of the Fire Inspector. This is typically 30 days. As always, you have the right to dispute the determinations of the Fire Inspector by filing an appeal with the Burlington County Construction Board of Appeals. Every Notice of Violation contains instructions for doing so on the very last page or you can find more information on appeals by visiting the administrative rulings page under the Fire Marshal's Office here on our website.

Initially, the Fire Inspector will issue a Notice of Violation. The Notice will indicate a date that the violation must be corrected by. The Fire Marshal's Office will make every effort to work with the building owner/occupant to bring the building into compliance without having to take further legal action. However, if the building owner/occupant continues to resist efforts to correct a fire hazard, the owner/occupant is subject to receiving a citation or monetary penalty up to and including punitive closure.

A re-inspection becomes necessary when a violation is found that cannot be corrected at the time of the inspection. The reason for the re-inspection is to produce the documentation showing the violation has been corrected, and that the building is then in compliance with all applicable codes and laws.

Oftentimes our Inspectors are conducting fire inspections, complaint investigations, code enforcement complaints, following up on fire investigations, or maintaining unblocked fire lanes. Our inspectors have the ability to complete all required paperwork remotely and will remain in the business parking lot for a period of time after the inspection in order to complete said paperwork.

YES!

If you are seeking a copy of a report for an insurance claim, please provide our email address (vknott@wtes.us) and contact information to your insurance company as we will deal directly with them to alleviate you of the burden. If you are looking for a copy of a report for yourself, please contact the Fire Marshal's Office at (609)267-2041, option 3 and we will discuss yor request.

Visit the following page for a guide on things to consider after you have a fire: https://www.usfa.fema.gov/downloads/pdf/publications/fa_46.pdf The Fire Investigator on scene of the Fire is available to answer any question you may have and will explain in detail the next steps.

Yes. According to the Westampton Township Ordinance, the Fire Marshal and the Police Department share concurrent responsibility for the enforcement of fire lane parking violations. Both entities are able to issue you a municipal summons requiring your appearance in court. Keep in mind that parking in a fire lane is a violation of the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Code, Westampton Township Ordinance, and the New Jersey Edition of the International Fire Code.

Every "door hanger" or notice lists the chapter of our Westampton Township Ordinances that must be followed. You may find a direct link to the Ordinances by clicking on the Ordinances link under the Fire Marshal's Office tab on our website and looking on the Standards and Guidelines tab. The Fire Department began Code Enforcement for the Township in late 2022 and has set up a complaint link for any concerns to be reported found on both our website homepage and the Townships webpage. Since the implementation of the report a concern portal, we have received an influx of complaints that need to be addressed which is most likely the reason for our interaction with your property. For most violations, a period of compliance is listed. You are always free to contact the Fire Marshal's Office at (609)267-2041, option 3 with any questions, comments, or concerns.

Yes. Please visit the Westampton Township website at https://www.westamptonnj.gov/construction-code-enforcement-inspections/pages/vacant-and-abandoned-properties and fill out the required forms.