[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Trustees of the Village of Fair Haven 11-10-2008 by L.L. No. 4-2008. Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Building construction and fire prevention — See Ch. 46.
Zoning — See Ch. 150.
A. 
This chapter shall be known as "Local Law No. 4 of 2008, Village of Fair Haven Outdoor Furnace Local Law."
B. 
It is adopted pursuant to Municipal Home Rule Law.
Although outdoor furnaces may provide an economical alternative to conventional heating systems, concerns have been raised regarding the safety and environmental impacts of these heating devices, particularly the production of offensive odors and potential health effects of uncontrolled emissions. Additionally, certain areas of the Village of Fair Haven are not suited for the installation of an outdoor furnace. This chapter is intended to ensure that outdoor furnaces are utilized in a manner that does not create a nuisance and is not detrimental to the health, safety and general welfare of the residents of the Village.
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
COAL
A natural dark-brown-to-black solid used as a fuel, formed from fossilized plants, and consisting of amorphous carbon with various organic and some inorganic compounds.
FIREWOOD
Trunks and branches of trees and bushes, but does not include leaves, needles, vines or brush smaller than three inches in diameter.
OUTDOOR FURNACE
Any equipment, device or apparatus, or any part thereof, which is installed, affixed or situated outdoors for the primary purpose of combustion of fuel to produce heat or energy used as a component of a heating system providing heat for any interior space.
UNTREATED LUMBER
Dry wood which has been milled and dried but which has not been treated or combined with any petroleum product, chemical, preservative, glue, adhesive, stain, paint or other substance.
No person shall cause, allow or maintain the use of an outdoor furnace within the Village of Fair Haven without first obtaining site plan approval from the Village and a permit from the Village of Fair Haven Code Enforcement Officer. Application for the site plan approval and permit shall be made to the Code Enforcement Officer on forms provided. The permit fees will be established from time to time by the Village of Fair Haven.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: A copy of the fees, as established, is on file in the Village offices.
Any outdoor furnace in existence on the effective date of this chapter shall be permitted to remain, provided that the owner applies for and receives site plan approval and a permit from the Village Code Enforcement Officer within six months of such effective date; provided, however, that upon the effective date of this chapter all the provisions hereof shall immediately apply to existing outdoor furnaces. All of the provisions of this chapter shall continue to apply to existing outdoor furnaces which receive site plan approval and permits. If the owner of an existing outdoor furnace does not receive a permit within six months of the effective date of this chapter, the outdoor furnace shall be removed. "Existing" or "in existence" means that the outdoor furnace is in place on the site.
A. 
Permitted fuel. Only coal, firewood and untreated lumber are permitted to be burned in any outdoor furnace. Burning of any and all other materials in an outdoor furnace is prohibited.
B. 
Spark arrestors. All outdoor furnaces shall be equipped with properly functioning spark arrestors.
C. 
Location of outdoor furnaces.
(1) 
Outdoor furnaces must be set back a minimum of 50 feet from any property line.
(2) 
Outdoor furnaces must be positioned to have least effect from stack emissions on fewest number of residences downwind.
D. 
Starter fuels. Lighter fluids, gasoline or chemicals to start the furnace are prohibited.
E. 
Stack height requirements.
(1) 
Manufacturer's minimum stack height must be adhered to.
(2) 
If stack is located more than 50 feet but no more than 150 feet from any residence not served by the furnace, the stack must be at least 75% plus five feet of the height of the eave line of that residence.
(3) 
If stack is located more than 150 feet but less than 300 feet from any residence not served by the furnace, the stack must be at least 50% plus five feet of the height of the eave line of that residence (but not less than manufacturer's minimum stack height).
Any resident who has secured a permit to install an outdoor furnace in doing so will also be agreeing to allow the Village Code Enforcement Officer or any other person designated by the Village of Fair Haven to inspect the outdoor furnace if a complaint is filed in writing relative to a violation of this chapter.
A. 
A permit issued pursuant to this chapter may be suspended as the Code Enforcement Officer may determine to be necessary to protect the public health, safety and welfare of the residents of the Village of Fair Haven if any of the following conditions occurs:
(1) 
Emissions from the outdoor furnace exhibit greater than twenty-percent opacity (six-minute average), except for one continuous six-minute period per hour of not more than twenty-seven-percent opacity, which shall be determined as provided in NYCRR Section 227-1.3(b);
(2) 
Malodorous air contaminants from the outdoor furnace are detectable outside the property of the person on whose land the outdoor furnace is located;
(3) 
The emissions from the outdoor furnace interfere with the reasonable enjoyment of life or property;
(4) 
The emissions from the outdoor furnace caused damage to vegetation or property; or
(5) 
The emissions from the outdoor furnace are or may be harmful to human or animal health.
B. 
A suspended permit may be reinstated once the condition which resulted in suspension is remedied and reasonable assurances are given that such condition will not recur. Recurrence of a condition which has previously resulted in suspension of a permit shall be considered a violation of this chapter subject to the penalties provided in § 71-11 hereof.
Where the Village of Fair Haven Zoning Board of Appeals finds that extraordinary and unnecessary hardships may result from strict compliance with this chapter, it may vary the regulations so that substantial justice may be done and the public interest secured, provided that such variations will not have the effect of nullifying the intent and purpose of this chapter or of jeopardizing the health, safety or welfare of the public. In varying any regulations, the Village Zoning Board of Appeals may impose such conditions and requirements as it deems reasonable and prudent. The Zoning Board of Appeals will hold a public hearing as part of its review. If the Zoning Board of Appeals denies the variance, the outdoor furnace must either be brought into compliance with this chapter or removed. If the Village Zoning Board of Appeals does not take any action with respect to the variance within 60 days from the receipt of an application for variance, the variance shall be deemed denied.
For purposes of this section, an outdoor furnace shall be considered to be abandoned when it has been abandoned or its use has discontinued for a period of 12 consecutive months. The owner of the premises upon which an abandoned outdoor furnace is situate shall be required to remove it.
Failure to comply with any of the provisions of this chapter shall be a violation and, upon conviction thereof, shall be punishable by a fine of not more than $500 or imprisonment for a period of not more than 15 days, or both, for the first offense. Any subsequent offense shall be punishable by a fine of not more than $1,000 or imprisonment for a period of not more than 30 days, or both. In addition, any permit issued pursuant to this chapter shall be revoked upon conviction of a second offense and the subject outdoor furnace shall not be eligible for another permit. Each day that a violation occurs shall constitute a separate offense. The owners of premises upon which prohibited acts shall occur shall be jointly and severally liable for violations of this chapter. Any fine imposed hereunder shall constitute a lien upon the real property where the outdoor furnace is located until paid.
Nothing contained herein shall authorize or allow burning which is prohibited by codes, laws, rules or regulation promulgated by the United States Environmental Protection Agency, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation or any other federal, state, regional or local agency. Outdoor furnaces, and any electrical, plumbing or other apparatus or device used in connection with an outdoor furnace shall be installed, operated and maintained in conformity with such regulations. In case of conflict between any provision of this chapter and any applicable federal, state or local ordinances, codes, laws, rules or regulations, the more restrictive or stringent provision or requirement shall prevail.