New Jersey § 52:27d-123

§ 52:27d-123.

The Legislature hereby finds, determines and declares: a. There is an urgent need to improve the housing conditions of low and moderate income

individuals and families, many of whom live in substandard housing, particularly in

the older cities of the State; and b. There are large numbers of older residential buildings in the State, both occupied

and vacant, which are in urgent need of rehabilitation and which must be rehabilitated

if the State's citizens are to be housed in decent, sound, and sanitary conditions;

and c. The application of those building code requirements currently in force to housing

rehabilitation has led to the imposition of costly and time-consuming requirements

which result in a significant reduction in the amount of rehabilitation activity taking

place; and d. Extensive research has been conducted, in New Jersey and elsewhere, which can serve

as a sound basis for the development and adoption of a building code specifically

designed to foster cost-effective housing rehabilitation while ensuring that necessary

health and safety requirements are met; and e. Furthermore, in addition to the need for prudent modification of code provisions

applicable to rehabilitation of older housing structures, it appears that complaints

have from time to time been made that the scope and rigidity of the existing State

Uniform Construction Code, as currently adopted and applied, may make excessively

stringent and onerous requirements that burden the provision of affordable housing

with expenses without any commensurate benefit to the public health, safety and welfare.