[Adopted 2-25-2015 by Ord. No. 317 as Ch. 8, Art. VI, of the 2015 Pittsfield
Charter Township Code]
As used in this article, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated:
A product prepared for enhancing the growth of grass. It
does not include raw manures, compost, marl, lime, limestone, wood
ashes, herbicides or pesticides.
A person principally engaged in the business of applying
fertilizer to lawns.
Any maintained grass area, including that on playing fields
and cemeteries. It does not include farmland, gardens, golf course
tees, putting greens, baseball infields, grass tennis courts, airport
landing areas, or sod farms.
No person shall:
A.
Apply fertilizer to any lawn between November 15 and April 1.
B.
Apply any fertilizer that contains more than 0.10% phosphorus to any lawn except as provided in § 8-35.
C.
Apply fertilizer to any impervious area without promptly clearing
the fertilizer from that area.
D.
Apply fertilizer within 25 feet of any wetland, watercourse, pond,
lake, or stormwater retention or detention basin.
A.
Between April 1 and September 30, fertilizer containing more than
0.10% phosphorus may be applied to lawns for which the owner has a
soil test report showing that within the previous 12 months the soil
was tested and found to be deficient in phosphorus. A fertilizer applicator
shall keep a copy of such test reports for lawns on which the applicator
has applied fertilizer containing more than 0.10% phosphorus and shall
provide a copy of all such test reports to the Ordinance Enforcement
Officer.
B.
Fertilizer containing more than 0.10% phosphorus may be applied to
lawns established from seed or sod, during the first growing season
of the seed or sod, provided that bare soil is covered and stabilized
with mulch to prevent runoff.
C.
Unless specifically noted otherwise on the product label, fertilizer
containing more than 0.10% phosphorus shall be watered into the soil
within 14 hours of application so that the fertilizer is immobilized
and prevented from loss by runoff.
A.
No person shall act as a fertilizer applicator unless currently registered
with the Township.
B.
No person shall make retail sales of fertilizer unless currently
registered with the Township.
C.
Registration shall be made by completing a form prepared by the Township
and by paying a fee in the amount determined by resolution of the
Township Board of Trustees. The form shall include the fertilizer
applicator's agreement to provide, upon request, test reports
showing the chemical content of fertilizers used in the Township.
D.
A registration shall be effective for one year.
E.
The Township Board of Trustees may revoke a registration for up to
one year if, after a public hearing, it determines that a fertilizer
applicator has violated this article.
Fertilizer shall not be stored uncontained, and if stored outdoors,
it must be stored in a watertight container.
If the Township makes available a brochure explaining the terms
and purposes of this article: