[HISTORY: Adopted by the Borough Council of the Borough of Munhall 3-18-2009 by Ord. No. 1537. Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Construction codes — See Ch. 168.
Fire prevention — See Ch. 214.
Grass, weeds and other vegetation — See Ch. 248.
Solid waste — See Ch. 373.
This chapter shall be known as the "Open Burning Ordinance."
This chapter applies to all outdoor burning and open burning within the Borough of Munhall except for the following:
A. 
It shall not apply to grilling or cooking food using charcoal, wood, propane or natural gas in cooking or grilling appliances in an appropriate container or fireplace.
B. 
It shall not apply to burning for the purpose of generating heat in a stove, furnace, fireplace or other heating device within a building used for human or animal habitation.
C. 
It shall not apply to the use of propane, acetylene, natural gas, gasoline or kerosene in a device intended for heating, construction or maintenance activities.
Open burning of wood, trees, logs, brush and/or stumps shall only be permitted in compliance with the following:
A. 
Only clean, dry wood products may be burned.
B. 
Burning shall only be permitted in an approved outdoor rated fireplace, fire pit, chimney or fifty-five gallon drum.
C. 
No burning shall be permitted between the hours of 11:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m., prevailing time.
D. 
All burning and fires must be no less than 15 feet distant from the nearest structure.
E. 
All outdoor burning shall be attended at all times by an individual not younger than 18 years of age.
F. 
Adequate means of fire extinguishment must be immediately available at all times when outdoor burning is taking place.
G. 
Burning at construction sites having a valid building permit for the purpose of providing warmth shall only be permitted if the weather is at or below 32° F. and said burning shall only take place in a fifty-five gallon drum suitable for containing such fire.
H. 
Persons utilizing or maintaining an outdoor fire shall be responsible for all fire suppression costs and any other liability resulting from damage caused by the fire.
I. 
All allowed open burning shall be conducted in a safe, nuisance-free manner, when wind and weather conditions minimize adverse effects and do not create a health hazard or a visibility hazard on roadways, railroads or airfields. Open burning shall be conducted in conformance with all local and state fire protection regulations and the 2006 International Fire Code.
J. 
No materials may be burned upon any street, curb, gutter, sidewalk or on the ice of a lake, pond, stream, body of water or on any public property.
K. 
No person shall be permitted to create or permit an open fire on property unless he/she has the legal right to possession of that property.
L. 
The Fire Marshal or other authorized officer, agent, employee or representative of the Borough of Munhall who presents credentials may inspect any property for the purpose of ascertaining compliance with the provisions of this chapter.
Refuse shall include any waste material, including building supplies, garbage, grass and leaves. It shall not include trees, logs, brush, stumps, and other vegetative matter.
The Fire Marshal shall have the power to prohibit open burning if such burning is contrary to the provisions of this chapter or the 2006 international Fire Code.
Any person or entity found to be in violation of this chapter shall be subject to a civil fine as provided in Chapter 1, Article II, General Penalty, of the Code of the Borough of Munhall for each violation.
[1]
Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I).
Any person or entity aggrieved by a decision of the Fire Marshal shall have the right of appeal to the Munhall Borough Code Enforcement Board.