[CC 1970 §12-6; Ord. No. 4844 §1, 12-10-1991; Ord. No. 6102 §1, 4-13-2010]
A. 
Definition. As used in this Section, the following term shall have the respective meaning ascribed to it:
COMPOSTING
A controlled biological reduction of organic waste to humus.
B. 
Maintenance. All compost piles shall be maintained using approved composting procedures to comply with the following requirements:
1. 
All compost piles shall be enclosed in a freestanding compost bin. Each compost bin shall be no larger in volume than one hundred fifty (150) cubic feet for properties ten thousand (10,000) square feet and less in lot size, with an additional one hundred fifty (150) cubic feet permitted for each additional ten thousand (10,000) square feet of lot size. Compost bins shall be no taller than five (5) feet.
2. 
All compost piles shall be maintained so as to prevent the harborage of rodents and pests. The presence of rodents in or near a compost pile shall be cause for the City to issue a complaint.
3. 
All compost piles shall be maintained so as to prevent unpleasant, rotten egg-like, putrefactive, sweet, sour or pungent odors.
4. 
Unless written permission has been granted by the adjoining property owner, no compost pile shall be located less than three (3) feet from the rear or side property line or within twenty (20) feet of any home, patio, pool or similar structure on the adjacent property. All compost piles shall be at least three (3) feet behind the front building setback line.
5. 
No compost pile shall be located where it will impede the natural free flow of storm water drainage.
6. 
Any vegetables, fruit and their remains, egg shells, fruit peels and rinds and hair must be composted in such a way that these materials are buried in the center of the pile at all times and so that none of these materials are exposed or visible.
C. 
Ingredients.
1. 
No compost pile shall contain any of the following:
a. 
Animal carcasses, fish, fowl, meat or other animal products;
b. 
Manure;
c. 
Used litter box remains;
d. 
Milk, cheese, sour cream or other dairy products;
e. 
Lard, oils or oil-based foods;
f. 
Mayonnaise;
g. 
Salad dressing;
h. 
Whole grains (rice, wheat, barley, etc.);
i. 
Peanut butter;
j. 
Items not normally composted;
k. 
Items not biodegradable.
2. 
Permitted ingredients shall include:
a. 
Yard waste, including leaves, sod and grass clippings;
b. 
Untreated wood, wood chips and sawdust;
c. 
Paper;
d. 
Straw;
e. 
Vegetables, fruits and their remains, including peels and rinds;
f. 
Empty egg shells;
g. 
Aquatic weeds;
h. 
Coffee grounds and tea leaves;
i. 
Evergreen needles;
j. 
Hair;
k. 
Drier lint;
l. 
Vacuum cleaner dust;
m. 
Organic garden waste;
n. 
Commercial compost additives.
D. 
Private Use Only. Compost piles established in accordance with this Article are for private use only. There shall not be commercial provision of material to be composted or commercial use of the product of such composting.
E. 
Owner Responsibility. Every owner or operator shall be responsible for maintaining all property under his/her control in accordance with the requirements of this Article.