No person, firm or corporation shall deposit,
keep or permit to be deposited or kept any straw, waste papers or
other combustible material in any street, sidewalk or place adjacent
to any building, or within 10 feet of any place where fire exists
or ashes are stored, unless such combustible material is kept within
a closed and separate receptacle.
[Amended 12-1-2020 by L.L. No. 8-2020]
A. Outdoor burning prohibited. Except as permitted herein, outdoor open
burning is not permitted in the Town of Seneca Falls.
B. Exceptions.
(1) All burning material must be contained in a fire pit/grill, fire
pit table, chiminea or outdoor fireplace. All must have covers not
to allow members to fly freely out of the burn container. The burn
area opening is not to exceed 36 inches in diameter. No person shall
kindle or maintain any such fire on any property less than 15 feet
from any structure and/or combustible; i.e., house, porch, garage,
trees, bushes, fencing. Flames shall not to exceed two feet in height.
No person shall kindle or maintain any bonfire or rubbish fire or
authorize any such fire to be kindled or maintained on or in any public
street, alley, road or other public ground without proper authorization.
Burning that produces excessive smoke will not be allowed at any time.
At no time shall the fire be left unattended until extinguished.
(2) Fires may only utilize nontreated wood or charcoal as fuel. No leaves
or other organic materials are permitted.
(3) This section in no way alters the open burning restrictions of the
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.
(4) Ceremonial or celebratory bonfires may be conducted where not otherwise
prohibited by law, provided that only untreated wood is used as fuel
and the fire is not left unattended until extinguished. All such fires
must be approved in writing by the Fire Chief, and may be prohibited
at his or her discretion, for any reason.
(5) Small fires that are used to dispose of a flag or religious item
and small fires or other smokeproducing processes where not otherwise
prohibited by law that are used in connection with a religious ceremony
are accepted.
(6) Burning on an emergency basis of explosive or other dangerous or
contraband material by police or other public safety organization
is accepted.
(7) Fire training, including firefighting, fire rescue and fire/arson
investigation training, performed under applicable rules and guidelines
of the NYS Department of State's Office of Fire Prevention and
Control, is accepted.
C. Fire Chief's sole discretion to extinguish. All permitted exceptions
listed above, as well, as any other fire burning in violation of this
chapter may be extinguished at the Fire Chief's sole discretion.
Fires determined to be producing excessive smoke or noxious fumes
will be ordered immediately extinguished by the Fire Chief or his
or her designee.
D. Penalties for offenses. Those individuals who fail to comply with
this chapter will be guilty of a violation, punishable by a fine not
to exceed $250 per violation. For the purposes of this chapter, each
day a violation exists shall constitute a separate violation.
No person shall fire or discharge any air gun,
gun, pistol, rifle, revolver, cannon or firearm of any kind within
the former Village of Seneca Falls boundary. No bow shall be used
within the former village boundary.
If any of the foregoing regulations are in conflict
with statutory provisions, said statutory provisions shall prevail.
An offense against the provisions of this chapter
shall be punishable by a fine of not more than $500 or by imprisonment
for not more than 15 days, or both.