CHAPTER 16.24
COMBUSTIBLE WASTE
Sections:
16.24.020 Failure to remove – Lien.
16.24.030 Depositing unlawful.
16.24.040 Distance from structures.
16.24.010 Removal required.
It is unlawful for any person to permit combustible waste materials to remain upon any roof, or in any court, yard, vacant lot or open space or to accumulate on or remain about any premises within the City, and it shall be the duty of any and all persons who own or control the premises to properly remove and dispose of any such materials promptly. It shall likewise be the duty of any and all persons who own or control any premises within the City upon which combustible waste materials have accumulated when the combustible waste consists of weeds, vines, grass, straw, hay or other growth, to cause the same to be promptly cut down and removed from the premises. (Ord 93-28 §1, 1993: Ord 351 §3A, 1963)
16.24.020 Failure to remove – Lien.
In the event any person who owns or controls the premises upon which combustible waste materials have accumulated which are a fire hazard or a menace to public health, safety or welfare fails to remove the materials or permits the same to remain on the premises, the City shall provide such person with written notice by certified mail directing such person to remove or have removed said combustible waste materials within ten days following the date of such notice. If such person fails to remove or have removed the combustible waste materials within the ten days, then the City shall, after a resolution passed by the City Council, cause the removal of such combustible waste materials and the full expense thereof shall be a charge against the owner of the property or person who controls the property from which such removal is undertaken. Any charge which remains unpaid for a period in excess of ten days after billing therefor shall constitute a lien against the property upon filing of a notice of claim or lien thereof in the office of the auditor of Grant County, Washington, which lien may be enforced and foreclosed in the same manner as general liens for mechanics and materialmen are foreclosed and as provided for by law. The City shall be allowed its costs and reasonable attorney fees in any such foreclosure action as provided for by law. (Ord 93-28 §1; Ord 351 §3B, 1963)
16.24.030 Depositing unlawful.
It is unlawful for any person to deposit any combustible waste materials on any property or premises within the City not owned or controlled by such person. (Ord 93-28 §1; Ord 351 §2C, 1963)
16.24.040 Distance from structures.
All stacks of combustible containers shall be maintained at least fifty feet from any building, loading dock or other wood frame structure; provided, however, that this distance may be reduced to not less than thirty feet from a building of masonry construction where no building openings face the stacking area. (Ord 93-28 §1)
16.24.050 Access widths.
A. A minimum five-foot access way surrounding a stack of combustible containers shall be maintained where the stack of material fronts a public street, alley, railroad spur, or other public right-of-way. A thirty-five-foot horizontal clearance distance shall also be maintained between a stack of combustible containers and any utility poles or overhead wires. A ten-foot vertical clearance shall be maintained between a stack of combustible containers and any utility line or overhead wires.
B. A minimum twenty-five-foot access way surrounding any stack of combustible containers shall be maintained around the entire stack where the stack does not front a public right-of-way as described in Section 16.24.050(A). This access way shall be increased by one foot in width for each additional one hundred bins over two thousand per stack.
C. A minimum fifty-foot clearance shall be maintained between any fire hydrant and a stack of combustible containers.
D. The storage of flammable and combustible liquids shall comply with the Uniform Fire Code as adopted by the City. In no case shall the minimum distance between a combustible container stack and any tank containing flammable or combustible liquids be less than ten feet.
E. All access ways shall be kept free of any obstruction or other combustible material at all times. The ground around any stack of combustible containers shall be kept free of weeds and debris for a distance of at least ten feet from the stack. (Ord 93-28 §1)
16.24.060 Dimensions of combustible container stacks.
A. A stack of combustible containers shall not exceed twenty feet in height.
B. A stack of combustible containers shall not exceed seventy-two feet in length or width without providing the access ways described above in Section 16.24.050.
C. A stack of bins shall not exceed three thousand bins in a stack. (Ord 93-28 §1)
16.24.070 Exemptions.
Recognizing that smaller, temporary combustible container stacks are often stored nearer the building, loading dock or other structure for routine and immediate use, such stacks shall be exempt from the standards set forth above; provided, however, that:
1. such stacks shall not exceed seventeen feet in height;
2. such stacks shall be located a minimum of ten feet from any building, loading dock or other structure; and
3. there shall be a minimum of fifteen feet between such stacks. For each foot that a temporary combustible container stack exceeds thirty by twenty feet in dimension, one additional foot shall be added to the distance between the building, loading dock or other structure and the stack, and one additional foot shall be added to the distance between such stacks. In no case shall any temporary combustible container stack create an immediate or serious fire hazard as determined by the fire chief. (Ord 93-28 §1)