Chapter 84.09 — FIREWOOD STORAGE

The purpose of this Chapter is to provide standards for the outdoor storage of firewood. These standards are intended to reduce fire hazards in order to protect lives and property and to avoid unnecessary burdens on the resources of local fire and rescue services.

(Ord. 4011, passed - -2007)

The standards in this Chapter shall apply to the storage of firewood in nonresidential land use zoning districts, where allowed in compliance with Division 2 (Land Use Zoning Districts and Allowed Land Uses), and the storage of firewood in residential land use zoning districts, which is an allowed accessory use.

(Ord. 4011, passed - -2007)

• (a) Local Fire Authority Declaration. When submitting a Site Plan Permit application, the firewood contractor shall provide a letter from the Local Fire Authority declaring the allowed amount of firewood storage.

• (b) Maximum Amount of Firewood Storage. The outdoor storage of firewood by a firewood contractor shall not exceed 60 cords of wood.

• (c) Access. Fire Department access shall be continually maintained.

• (d) Activities. Activities associated with firewood storage and sales shall be limited to stacking, bundling, loading, and unloading of the firewood.

• (e) Hours of Operation. The hours of operation shall be limited to between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m.

• (f) Maintenance. The operation shall be:

• (1) Maintained free of rodents, insects, and other pests and in compliance with § 88.01.090 (Tree Protection from Insects and Disease);

• (2) In compliance with County Fire Department Guidelines for Interpretations for Firewood Contractors and Wood Storage Yards; and

• (3) Continually kept clean and free of excessive bark, wood chips, sawdust, and wood scraps.

• (g) Paving. Before the initiation of the wood storage and sales use, a circulation aisle shall be paved to minimum County standards.

(h) Screening. Before initiation of the wood storage and sales use, the area shall be screened from view to a height of six feet by a chain link fence with slats, solid wood fence, or masonry wall.

• (i) Separation. Where bulk timber and firewood is piled next to a property line on which a structure has been

erected, the distance from the pile to property line shall be not less than one-half the height of the pile and in no case less than five feet. In the FS (Fire Safety) overlay, all areas used for the storage of firewood shall either be at least 30 feet away from all structures or wholly enclosed within a structure.

• (j) Stacking. The wood shall be neatly stacked. Bulk timber and firewood shall be piled with due regard to stability of piles and in no case higher than 20 feet.

• (Ord. 4011, passed - -2007)

(a) Maximum Amount of Firewood. In residential land use zoning districts, outdoor storage of firewood shall be allowed as an accessory use. Stored firewood shall not to exceed four cords (i.e., a total of 512 cubic feet, where a cord equals 128 cubic feet) in the RS (Single Residential) and RM (Multiple Residential) land use zoning districts. (b) Separation. Where firewood is piled next to a property line on which a structure has been erected, the distance from the pile to property line shall be not less than five feet. In the Fire Safety Overlay, all areas used for the storage of firewood shall either be at least 30 feet away from all structures or wholly enclosed within a structure. (Ord. 4011, passed - -2007)