Bureau of Fire Safety and Prevention
Effective January 1, 2023 the Dennis Township Bureau of Fire Safety and Prevention will be conducting all fire safety inspections within the Township, including those for portable fire extinguisher and smoke detector/carbon monoxide alarm compliance for re-sale of residential properties, annual rental property inspections and annual commercial property inspections.
Property Sales and Rentals
Requirements
All properties shall be inspected upon the sale of the property prior to the transfer. All rental properties shall be inspected upon change of tenant. All seasonal properties shall be registered and inspected annually. There shall be a penalty of not less than $500.00 and not more than $2,000.00 for any rental property and seasonal rental property occupied but not registered and inspected as required, as well as any transfer of property not registered and inspected as required.
Smoke Alarms
Smoke alarms must be installed and maintained according to the year that the property was constructed or more than 50% renovated. If the dwelling was built prior to 1977, battery-operated smoke alarms are permitted. These MUST be 10-year sealed battery alarms. One alarm must be installed on each level of the dwelling (including basements) and within 10 feet outside of any sleeping area. Any dwelling built after 1977 requires hard-wired smoke alarms. The alarms must be less than 10 years old (manufacturer date is on the back of the unit). DO NOT REPLACE A/C POWERED SMOKE ALARMS WITH BATTERY TYPE.
Carbon Monoxide Alarms
Carbon monoxide alarms are required in any dwelling unit that contains a fuel-burning device, fireplace, wood stove or attached garage. The carbon monoxide alarm can be battery operated, plug-in or hard wired. The alarm must be installed within 10 feet outside of any sleeping area. The unit must be less than 10 years old.
Fire Extinguisher Requirements
The extinguisher must be a 2A:10BC or 3A:40BC classification. (No more than 10 lbs.) The extinguisher is considered to be new during the year of manufacture and one year after. For example, an extinguisher manufactured in 2023 will pass inspection for 2023 and 2024. If the extinguisher is not new, it must be serviced and tagged within the past 12 months by a NJ contractor certified to service extinguishers. The extinguisher must be mounted on the manufacturer’s bracket – in plain view, within 10 feet of the kitchen area (no higher than 5 feet above the floor).
Download List Of Fire Extinguisher Servicing Companies PDF ⇒
Download Application For Sale of Property PDF ⇒
Rental Properties
The requirements for rental properties are the same as the requirements for sales PLUS some additional items that are required. More information will be available soon.
Download Application For Rental Property ⇒
Fees
- Rental inspection fees are $90.00 per residential unit.
- Sale of property inspection fees are $100.00 per unit for inspection requests submitted to the Fire Bureau office more than 10 business days prior to the settlement date.
- The fee for inspection requests with less than 10 business days to settlement will be $150.00. The fee for requests fewer than 4 business days to settlement will be $200.00.
- If it becomes necessary for the Fire Bureau to perform a third inspection on a sale of property registration, there will be a $50.00 fee for each inspection.
Commercial Properties
Inspection of life-hazard uses
The Bureau of Fire Safety and Prevention, established by paragraph 102-2 of Dennis Township Ordinance No. 89-176, Chapter 102 “Fire Prevention” (revised Ordinance #2022-08), shall carry out the periodic inspections of life-hazard uses required by the Uniform Fire Code on behalf of the Commissioner of the Department of Community Affairs.
Inspection of non-life-hazard uses & Fees
In addition to the registrations required by the Uniform Fire Code, and pursuant to paragraph 102-7, the following non-life-hazard uses shall register with the Bureau of Fire Safety and Prevention. These uses shall be inspected once per year and shall pay an annual fee as set forth below.
Food Trucks and Permits
Pursuant to the New Jersey Uniform Fire Code, N.J.A.C. 5:70-2.9(C) and Dennis Township Code, Chapter 102 Section 9B, Food trucks shall pay Type 1 fees as set forth in the state regulation once per year. All fees associated with subsequent inspections in that same calendar year shall be waived. The inspection fee is $54.
Download Permit Application 2023
| PERMIT TYPE | FEE | USE OF PERMIT |
|---|---|---|
|
TYPE 1 |
$54.00 |
i- Bonfires. ii- Hot work or torch work V- Open flame or flame producing device (festivals, public gatherings, entertainment, recreation) V- Cut welding (torch) Viii- Open flame or flame producing device used for training non-fire service personnel in fire suppression iX- Use of multipurpose room with max occupancy load of 100 people or more for occasional amusement, entertainment, or mercantile type purpose Xii- Cooking operation that requires a suppression system (food trucks) XV- Tent, tension membrane structure or canopy that is greater than 900 square feet or 30 feet or greater in any direction |
|
TYPE 2 |
$214.00 |
ii- Fumigation or thermal insecticide fogging V- Outside storage or resale exchange of LP- Gas cylinders Viii- Storage or retail sale of sparkling devise in any temporary or permanent structure when the pyrotechnic content exceeds 125 pounds |
|
TYPE 3 |
$427.00 |
i- Industrial processing ovens or furnace operations at approximate atmospheric pressure and temperatures not exceeding 1400 degrees F. ii- Wrecking yards, junk yards, outdoors used tire storage, waste material handling plants iii- Storage, handling, and discharging of fireworks |
|
TYPE 4 |
$641.00 |
iii- Storage handling and processing of flammable, combustible, and unstable liquids in closed containers and portable tanks in aggregate amounts of more than 660 gallons |
*Numbers match permit explanations connected to permit application.
Important Information
Please contact the office if you have any questions regarding which category is applicable to your property.
Checks should be made payable to “Dennis Township” (credit card payments are also available; a 2.95% service fee will be added).
Uses required to be registered with the state as life-hazard uses shall not be required to register under this section. If you believe this exception applies to your property, please contact the office or email .
In the discretion of the Fire Official, vacant buildings will be charged and inspected according to the previous use of the building. If you are the owner of commercial property, it is your responsibility to register each property with the Bureau of Fire Safety and Protection and have the fire safety inspection performed in accordance with the above. Please note that all inspections shall expire on December 31 of each year. (Paragraph 102-7.I)
Contacts
William Belles – IV Fire Official – 609-861-9700 ext. 237 –
Sam Grassi – Fire Inspector/Clerk – 609-861-9700 ext. 238 –