Baker City Ordinances

ORDINANCE NO. 3302

AN ORDINANCE REQUIRING A PERMIT FOR RESIDENTIAL BURNING IN THE
CITY OF BAKER CITY; AND SETTING FEES, PENALTIES AND RULES.

BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY OF BAKER CITY, OREGON:

SECTION 1. PURPOSE:

This ordinance shall promote the public health, safety and welfare of the citizens of the City of
Baker City due to the air pollution and fire hazards caused by residential burning involving burn
barrels, open burning and the burning of refuse.

SECTION 2. RESIDENTIAL BURNING IN THE CITY OF BAKER CITY:

Permits are required for residential burning. Annual burning permits shall be effective January 1
through December 31 of the same year; seven-day permits shall be effective for the seven
consecutive days specified on the permit. Fees for each type of permit shall be set by Resolution.
The permit shall be shown to a representative of the City upon request. The permit shall be
issued to the applicant for using a burn barrel or burn pile at a specific address and such permit is
not transferable to any other address

SECTION 3. GENERAL REQUIREMENTS:

A. There shall be a valid burn permit issued for the address at which the burn barrel or burn pile is
located.

B. Fire shall be closely attended by a person 16 years of age or older and a charged garden hose
shall be present while burning is in progress.

C. Burning shall only be between the hours of 7 a.m. and 4 p.m. All burn barrels and burn piles
shall be completely extinguished ~ 4 p.m. Completely extinguished means that there shall not be
any smoke coming from the burn barrel or burn pile, and the burn barrel or burn pile shall contain
no smoldering material or hot ashes or embers.

D. Burning shall be conducted in a manner and under conditions that prevent any burning
material, sparks, or embers going onto any combustible material.

E. Only untreated wood, paper products and yard debris are permitted to be burned. It shall
NEVER be permissible to burn household garbage such as but not limited to: food stuffs, plastic,
metal or diapers.

F. There shall be no burning upon restriction by the Fire Department due to fire/safety conditions.

G. Fires that generate smoke or odor complaints from surrounding residents may be required to
be extinguished at the sole discretion of the Fire Department. If the permit holder was otherwise
complying with this ordinance, it shall not be considered a violation of this ordinance and no
further action against the permit holder will be pursued.

SECTION 4. BURN BARREL REQUIREMENTS:

A. A good quality barrel with a heavy mesh screen shall be used. Good quality means there shall
be no holes or significant deterioration in the barrel caused by rust rot.
B. Burn barrels shall be located at least 15 feet from any combustibles (buildings, vehicles,
fences, etc.) and property lines.

C. Ground surrounding the barrel shall be cleared and maintained for at least 10 feet.

D. Only dry paper shall be burned in burn barrels. Wood and yard debris shall not be permitted to
be burned in a burn barrel.

SECTION S. OPEN PILE BURNING REQUIREMENTS:

A. Open burn piles shall only contain dry leaves, wood, or paper.

B. Burn piles shall not exceed three feet in diameter and two feet in height.

C. Burn piles shall be hand fed and easily controlled with a garden hose.

D. Burn piles shall be located at least 25 feet from any combustibles (buildings, vehicles, fences,
etc.) and property lines.

E. Open burn piles larger than 3' by 2' shall be approved by the Fire Chief or designee and must
be a minimum of 50' from any combustibles (buildings, vehicles, fences, etc.) and property lines.

SECTION 6. FIELD BURNING:

There shall be no field burning inside the city limits.

SECTION 7. FIRE DEPARTMENT PARTICIPATION:

This ordinance shall not apply to any fire in which the fire department has agreed to participate.

SECTION 8. PENALTIES:

Violation of this ordinance shall result in penalty per City of Baker City Municipal Code section
10.99.

Section 9. Repeal of Prior Ordinance:

Section 3(5) of Ordinance No. 2498 is repealed; Section 97.03(G) of the Baker City Municipal code
shall be modified to reflect Ordinance No. 3302.

Section 10. Validity:

The City Council of the City of Baker City hereby declares that should any section, paragraph,
sentence or word of this ordinance or of the code or standards thereby adopted be declared for any
reason to be invalid, it is the intent of said City Council that it would have passed all other portions of
this ordinance independent of the elimination here from of any such portion as may be declared invalid.

READ for the first time in full this 26th day of April, 2011.

READ for the second time by title only this 10th day of May, 2011, upon the unanimous
vote of the members present, after the text of the ordinance was offered to the members of
the Council and the press and public for their use during the meeting.
READ for the third time by title only this day of ,2011,
upon the unanimous vote of the members present, after the text of the ordinance was offered
to the members of the Council and the press and public for their use during the meeting.

PASSED by the City Council of the City of Baker City, Oregon, and signed by the Mayor of
the City of Baker City, Oregon, this day of , 2011.

Mayor
ATIEST:
City Recorder
Ayes -(--)
Nays -(--)
Absent -(--)
Abstain _L (--)
Ordinance No. 3302 Paae3