Burning Ordinance

Health and Sanitation

SEC. 6-1-9 AN ORDINANCE REGULATING THE BURNING OF SOLID FUELS IN THE VILLAGE OF RUDOLPH, WOOD COUNTY, WISCONSIN
        The Village Board of the Village of Rudolph does hereby ordain as follows:

     (a) DEFINITIONS

    1. "Solid fuel-fired heating device" means a device designed for solid fueld combustion so that usable heat is derived for the interior of the building and includes solid fuel-fired stoves, fireplaces, solid fuel-fired cooking stoves, and combination fuel furnaces or boilers which burn solid fuel including outdoor wood burning units.
    2. "Stacks or Chimneys" means any vertical structure enclosing a flue or flues that carry off smoke or exhaust from a solid fuel-fired heating device; especially that part of such structures extending above a roof.
    3. "Person" means an individual, partnership, corporation, company or other associating.
    4. "Public Nuisance" means any act or failure to perform a legal duty required by this ordinance is declared a public nuisance.

     (b) REGISTRATION

    1. The Village of Rudolph shall require registration with the Village Clerk of any solid fuel-fired heating device installed after the effective date of this ordinance. Registration must be made within ten (10) days after the date of installation.

     (c) OTHER REQUIREMENTS

    1. All wood-burning units installed within the Village limits of Rudolph, Wisconsin, are required to meet emission standards currently required by the Envirornmental Protection Agency (EPA). Emission standards currently required by the EPA are hereby adopted by reference together with any amendments or modifications made thereto in the future.
    2. All outdoor wood burning units or solid fuel-fired heating devices are subject to public nuisance as described in this ordinance.
    3. Any dense smoke, noxious fumes, gas and soot, or cinders, in unreasonable quantities may be delcared a public nuisance by the Village Health Officer or the Village Police Department.
    4. Any indoor or outdoor solid fuel-fired heating device shall have a minimum stack height of twenty (20) feet from ground level.
    5. Any existing non-complying stack shall be removed or replaced within a period of six (6) months from the effective date of this ordinance.
    6. All stacks or chimneys must be so constructed to withstand high winds or other related elements.
    7. Building with less than twenty-five (25) feet of open space between units shall have a minimum stack height of three (3) feet above the adjoining property's highest roof elevation.
    8. This use of solid fuel-fired devices within the Village of Rudolph is prohibited between May 15th and September 15th of each year.

     (d) DUTIES OF VILLAGE OFFICERS

    1. The Village Public Health Officer shall enforce the provisions of this ordinance. Emission standards may be enforced by the EPA.

     (e) PENALTY

    1. Any violation of this ordinance shall be punishable according to the provisions of Section 1-1-6 of the Village of Rudolph Code of Ordinances.

Downloadable ordinance