13:17-19. Penalties for failure to obtain approval

(a) If any person transfers, sells, or rents to another, or agrees to transfer, sell or rent to another any land or building or other structure or constructs or alters any building or structure within the district, or directly causes the transfer, sale or rental to another, or arranges for an agreement to transfer, sell or rent to another any land or building or other structure or directly causes the construction or alteration of any building or structure within the district, without first obtaining the approval of the commission of any application for a subdivision, site plan or building permit as may be required by P.L. 1968, c. 404 (C. 13:17-1 et seq.), the person shall be subject to a fine of not more than $5,000.00, and each parcel, lot, plot, building, or rental unit so disposed of or agreed or caused to be disposed of shall be deemed a separate violation.

The commission may cancel and revoke any permit, approval or certificate required or permitted to be granted or issued to any person pursuant to P.L. 1968, c. 404 (C. 13:17-1 et seq.), if the commission finds that the person has violated this subsection. Where any violation of this subsection is of a continuing nature, each day during which the continuing violation remains unabated, after the date fixed by the commission in any order or notice for the correction or termination of the violation, constitutes an additional, separate and distinct violation. The commission, in the exercise of its administrative authority pursuant to P.L. 1968, c. 404 (C. 13:17-1 et seq.), may levy and collect the fines in the amounts set forth in this subsection. Where an administrative penalty order has not been satisfied, the penalty may be sued for and recovered by and in the name of the commission in a civil action brought in a summary proceeding pursuant to "the penalty enforcement law" (N.J.S. 2A:58-1 et seq.), in Superior Court.

(b) In addition to the foregoing, the commission may in the case of any violation of subsection (a) of this section, institute civil action:

(1) For injunctive relief;

(2) To set aside and invalidate any conveyance or lease made pursuant to contract for sale or otherwise in violation of subsection (a) of this section;

(3) To prevent such unlawful sale, rental, erection, construction, reconstruction, alteration, repair, conversion, maintenance or use;

(4) To restrain, correct, or abate such violation;

(5) To prevent the occupancy of said dwelling, structure or land; or

(6) To prevent any illegal act, conduct, business or use in or about such premises.

L. 1968, c. 404, s. 18; amended 1989,c.27,s.1.