[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Supervisors of the County of Page as indicated in article histories. Amendments noted where applicable.]
A. When it is deemed necessary by the Fire-EMS Department of Page County, or in the discretion of the County Administrator acting in conjunction with local volunteer fire departments within the jurisdiction of Page County, the County Administrator shall have the authority to declare a ban on open air burning as set forth herein.
B. When, as a result of drought or other conditions that create an imminent or extraordinary fire hazard, including a threat to life or property, or a public nuisance, the County Administrator, in consultation with the Board of Supervisors, along with the Fire-EMS Department of Page County or the local volunteer fire departments, may issue a declaration that open burning is prohibited in part, or all, of the County. Following such declaration, it shall be unlawful for any person to burn brush, grass, leaves, trash, debris or any other flammable material, or to ignite or maintain any open fire within the County, or within any part of the County subject to the prohibition. The declaration shall remain in effect until the County Administrator, in consultation with the Board of Supervisors, along with the Fire-EMS Department of Page County or the local volunteer fire departments, issues a declaration that the condition no longer exists and thereby rescinds the prohibition.
C. The Board of Supervisors may further delegate to the County Administrator the authority to promulgate, impose, or rescind any such regulations or permits as may be consistent with the declaration limiting or banning open burning.
D. Violation of any restriction, regulation or ban imposed by this article shall be considered a Class 1 misdemeanor. Each separate incident may be considered a new violation.
[Adopted 4-21-2025 by Ord. No. 56]
A. In accordance with the authority specified in Section 15.2-922 of the Code of Virginia 1950), as amended, smoke alarms shall be installed in the following structures, in addition to those as required by the Uniform Statewide Building Code:
(1) All buildings containing one or more dwelling units.
(2) Hotels or motels regularly used, offered for, or intended to be used to provide overnight sleeping accommodations for one or more persons.
(3) Rooming houses regularly used, offered for, or intended to be used to provide overnight sleeping accommodations.
B. Smoke alarms installed pursuant to this section shall be installed only in conformance with the provisions of the Uniform Statewide Building Code and shall be permitted to be either battery operated or AC powered. Such installation shall not require new or additional wiring and shall be maintained in accordance with regulations as set forth in the Code of Virginia.
C. Nothing herein shall be construed to require the upgrading of any smoke alarms provided by the building code in effect at the time of the last renovation of such building, for which a building permit was required, or as otherwise provided in the Uniform Statewide Building Code.
A. The owner or management agent of a dwelling unit which is rented or leased in a residential building containing one or more dwelling units, shall furnish the tenant at the beginning of each tenancy, at each renewal or extension of a tenancy and at least annually, written certification that all required smoke alarms are present, have been inspected, are operational and in good working order.
B. The owner or management agent shall maintain copies of written certification provided to the tenant(s) for the entire lease term that includes an inventory of all smoke alarms in the building, their location and working status. Copies of such written certification shall be made available to the office of the Department of Planning and Community Development upon reasonable request.
C. The owner or management agent, or responsible party as otherwise set forth in the lease, shall be responsible for interim testing, maintenance and reasonable care of the smoke alarms, including installation of batteries as needed.
D. The owner or management agent shall repair or replace any inoperative or malfunctioning smoke alarms. Such service, repair or replacement and/or restoration of the alarms to normal operative condition shall occur within five days of their receipt of written notice that a smoke alarm is in need of repair, inoperative or otherwise not properly functioning.