AGENDA DATE: 5/1/2019
TITLE:
Title
Yard/Property Maintenance Open-Air Burning
BODY
SUBJECT/PROPOSAL/REQUEST: Yard/Property Maintenance Open-Air Burning Work Session
ITEM TYPE: Regular Information Item
STAFF CONTACT(S): Richardson, Walker, Kamptner, Farley, Eggleston, Oprandy, Lagomarsino
PRESENTER (S): H. Lagomarsino
LEGAL REVIEW: Yes
REVIEWED BY: Jeffrey B. Richardson
BACKGROUND:
Citizen complaints and Board of Supervisors' concerns regarding the County's open-air burning processes and laws have generated discussion and recent changes. In framing the discussion, staff has referred to three types of open-air burning: commercial open-air burning (large scale, land clearing for development), Certified Burn Program (predominantly maintenance of land involved in agricultural or farming operations), and yard maintenance open-air burning (yard maintenance materials and garden trimmings). Although State and local codes regulate these types of burning, there are differences in processes and requirements. For further description of each and their associated processes, please see Attachment A - Open-Air Burning Explained.
The Board discussed commercial open-air burning during its December 6, 2017; April 4, 2018; and June 6, 2018 meetings, and enacted changes to the County Code regarding commercial open-air burning on October 3, 2018. Throughout the conversation about commercial open-air burning, concerns and issues were raised relevant to the Certified Burn Program and yard maintenance open-air burning. A Board work session was held on January 16, 2019 (Attachment B) to discuss these two programs specifically and four items were identified for further analysis and consideration: Increase distance requirements from buildings for burn piles; eliminate the ability to obtain neighbor permission to burn less than 300 feet from a building; impose burning time constraints and/or time limits for burning; require a permit for any/all burning.
The purpose of ...
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