§ 26:2C-22 — Relation of local ordinances or regulations to State law

22. a. (1) No ordinances of any governing body of a municipality or county or board of health more stringent than P.L.1954, c.212 (C.26:2C-1 et seq.) or any code, rules or regulations adopted pursuant thereto shall be superseded by P.L.1954, c.212 (C.26:2C-1 et seq.). After the effective date of P.L.1995, c.188 (C.26:2C-9.5 et al.), no municipality, county, local board of health, local health agency, regional health commission, or any other political subdivision of the State may enact any ordinance, pursuant to P.L.1954, c.212 (C.26:2C-1 et seq.), section 9 of P.L.1977, c.443 (C.26:3A2-27), or any other authority, concerning the subject matter covered by P.L.1954, c.212 (C.26:2C-1 et seq.), except as provided in subsection b. of this section, whether that subject matter is expressed by inclusion in or exclusion from that act. Penalties for violations of ordinances of a governing body of a municipality or county or board of health shall not exceed $2,500. Nothing set forth in the "County Environmental Health Act," P.L.1977, c.443 (C.26:3A2-21 et al.), or any codes, rules or regulations adopted pursuant thereto, shall affect the validity of local ordinances adopted pursuant to this section prior to the effective date of P.L.1995, c.188 (C.26:2C-9.5 et al.) or amendments thereto adopted as authorized pursuant to subsection b. of this section. b. Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection a. of this section to the contrary, no fee imposed upon any facility by the governing body of a municipality or county or board of health relating to the control of air pollution, which fee was imposed pursuant to this section, section 7 of P.L.1991, c.99 (C.26:3A2-34), or any other law, may be increased above the amount imposed upon that facility as of June 15, 1995. In no event may any such fee imposed upon any facility exceed a total of $1,000 per year over a given fee cycle and any such fee that exceeds that amount shall be reduced to $1,000 after the effective date of P.L.1995, c.188 (C.26:2C-9.5 et al.). Ordinances adopted prior to the effective date of P.L.1995, c.188 (C.26:2C-9.5 et al.) that impose fees exceeding the $1,000 limit shall be amended to conform to the provisions of this subsection at or before the end of the present ordinance fee cycle. In order to prevent the pass through of fees capped by this section onto any facility engaging in activities not related to the control of air pollution, no fee imposed pursuant to section 7 of P.L.1991, c.99 (C.26:3A2-34) for such activities may be increased above the amount imposed upon that facility as of June 15, 1995. c. Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection a. or b. of this section to the contrary, nothing in this section or in the "County Environmental Health Act," P.L.1977, c.443 (C.26:3A2-21 et al.) shall be construed to authorize ordinances providing for the local regulation of, or collection of fees from, any facility required to obtain an operating permit pursuant to section 13 of P.L.1967, c.106 (C.26:2C-9.2) or any research and development facility. However, local inspections of such facilities or research and development facilities delegated pursuant to the "County Environmental Health Act," P.L.1977, c.443 (C.26:3A2-21 et al.) may be conducted as necessary in response to citizen complaints. L.1954,c.212,s.22; amended 1967,c.106,s.10; 1985,c.12,s.4; 1995,c.188,s.10.