[HISTORY: Adopted by the Borough Council of the Borough of Tamaqua 6-16-2009 by Ord. No. 636. Amendments noted where applicable.]
A. 
This chapter shall be known as the "External Solid-Fuel-Burning and Heating Appliance Ordinance."
B. 
This chapter is to protect the public health, safety and welfare of Borough residents from unreasonable dust, noxious odors, fumes, smells and unhealthy conditions caused by emissions that cross property lines because smoke stays close to the ground and can easily reach humans working and playing outdoors and even penetrate neighboring buildings. The low-lying smoke can contribute to and worsen cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, and be an irritant to the eyes and lungs.
A. 
This chapter shall apply to all new outdoor solid-fuel-burning furnaces within Tamaqua Borough.
B. 
This chapter does not apply to grilling, cooking using charcoal, wood, propane or natural gas in cooking or grilling appliances.
C. 
This chapter does not apply to burning in a stove, furnace, fireplace or other heating device within a building or structure used for human or animal habitation.
D. 
This chapter does not apply to the use of propane, acetylene, natural gas, gasoline or kerosene in a device intended for heating, construction or maintenance activities.
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
CHIMNEY
Any vertical structure enclosing a flue or flues that carry off smoke or exhaust from a solid fuel fired outdoor heating appliance. An outdoor appliance utilizing a heat pump or one of the following fuel sources: solar energy, electric, oil propane, gas or natural gas will not be included in this definition and the same are exempt from the prohibitions provided for in this chapter.
EXTERNAL SOLID-FUEL-BURNING AND HEATING APPLIANCE
Hereafter called "appliance," any device including a furnace, stove or boiler designed and constructed to burn solid fuels, including wood, coal, or other solid fuels and situated outdoors, and not situated within a building intended for habitation by humans or domestic animals, which is used for the primary purpose of combustion of solid fuel to produce heat for energy as a heating system, or component thereof, which provides heat or hot water to the principal structure, to a structure used for human or animal habitation, or to any accessory uses or structures, including, but not limited to, greenhouses, swimming pools, out buildings, etc.
UCC
The Pennsylvania Uniform Construction Code.
A. 
A zoning permit and a Uniform Construction Code (UCC) permit shall be required for the installation and operation of the appliance within the Borough of Tamaqua.
B. 
A zoning permit application shall be submitted to the Borough Zoning/Code Enforcement Officer by the owner or authorized representative of the owner on a form provided by the Borough and shall be accompanied by a fee established by the Borough.
C. 
A UCC inspection permit shall be filled out by the owner or authorized representative of the owner on a form provided by the inspection company and shall be accompanied by the fees established by the inspection service which will perform the required inspections on the installation and operation of the appliance.
D. 
Before a permit can be issued, an inspection of the proposed installation shall be required. In addition, a site plan is required showing the location of the proposed appliance on the property, location and height of all existing structures on the property, and distances from the appliance to existing structures on the property. The manufacturer's specifications and instructions shall also be furnished to the Borough before a permit can be issued.
E. 
Any permit issued by the Borough Zoning/Code Enforcement Officer for the installation and operation of the appliance may be revoked to protect the public health, safety and welfare of the residents of the Borough of Tamaqua.
A. 
Any appliance shall only be permitted to burn fuels approved by the manufacturer of the outdoor fuel-burning appliance.
B. 
The following materials may not be burned in any appliance:
(1) 
Rubbish or garbage, including, but not limited to, food wasted, food wraps, packaging, animal carcasses, paint or painted materials, furniture, composite shingles, demolition debris or other household or business wastes.
(2) 
Waste oil or other oily wastes.
(3) 
Asphalt and products containing asphalt.
(4) 
Treated or painted wood, including, but not limited to, plywood, composite wood products or other wood products that are painted, varnished, or treated with preservatives.
(5) 
Any plastic material, including, but not limited to, nylon, PVC, polystyrene or urethane foam.
(6) 
Rubber, including tires and synthetic rubber-like products.
(7) 
Newspaper, corrugated cardboard, container board, office paper and other materials that must be recycled in accordance with the Borough of Tamaqua Recycling Ordinance.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: See Ch. 273, Solid Waste, Art. I, Recycling.
C. 
The appliance shall be permitted in any zoning district on not less than five acres and not less than 200 feet from any lot line.
D. 
Any appliance shall have a minimum chimney height of 20 feet or the maximum height allowable by the manufacturer. If less than 20 feet, you must provide the Borough with documentation from the manufacturer confirming the restriction.
E. 
All appliances shall be installed, operated and maintained in strict compliance with the manufacturers' instructions and guidelines for the said appliance. In the event that a conflict arises between the manufacturers' instructions and regulations, and the regulations contained in this chapter, the stricter instructions or regulations shall apply.
F. 
All appliances shall comply with emissions standards as required for outdoor solid-fuel-burning appliances, as promulgated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). For purposes of this chapter, all emission standards currently required by the EPA are hereby adopted by reference as well as any amendments or modifications made to them hereafter.
G. 
All ashes or waste may be disbursed on the property where the appliance is located. Any large accumulation of ashes or waste must be disposed of in a manner approved by the Borough of Tamaqua and/or the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection.
H. 
All appliances shall be used for the sole purpose of furnishing heat and/or hot water to a dwelling or other structure pursuant to a permit issued hereunder, including residential swimming pools.
I. 
Outdoor solid-fuel-burning appliances on lots less than 10 acres shall not be operated from May 15 to September 15. Any outdoor solid-fuel-burning appliance on lots of 10 acres or more may be operated through out the calendar year.
J. 
In the event the appliance is damaged or physically deteriorated more than 50%, the appliance must be removed and/or replaced with a new unit within 60 days of the date that notice is received from the Borough of Tamaqua. In such event, all provisions of this chapter, including but, not limited to, the permitting procedures shall be complied with.
A person utilizing or maintaining an outdoor solid-fuel-burning appliance shall be responsible for all fire suppression costs and any other liability resulting from damage caused by a fire.
Any authorized officer, agent, employee or representative of the Borough of Tamaqua may inspect any property for the purpose of ascertaining compliance with the provisions of this chapter. If access is defined, access shall be obtained pursuant to applicable laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
A. 
The Code Enforcement and Zoning Officer, authorized officer, agent, or representative of the Borough of Tamaqua is authorized to enforce any provisions of this chapter.
B. 
Any person, firm or corporation who shall violate any of the provisions of this chapter shall, upon conviction thereof, be sentenced to pay a fine of not more than $500 or less than $200, and in default of payment of said fine, be subject to imprisonment for a term of not more than 30 days. Every day that a violation of this chapter continues shall be deemed to be and shall constitute a separate offense hereunder.