A. Definition: For the purposes of this chapter:
JUNKYARDS: An open area where junk, waste, scrap, used equipment and vehicle parts, discarded or salvaged materials are bought, sold, exchanged, stored, baled, packed, disassembled or handled, including, but not limited to, scrap iron and other metals, paper, rags, rubber tires and bottles. A junkyard includes automobile wrecking yards, house wrecking yards, used lumberyards and places or yards for storage of salvaged house wrecking and structural steel materials and equipment. It also shall include places or yards for storage of the above cited waste and other materials incident or accessory to the primary use of the area, but does not include uses established entirely within enclosed buildings.
B. Fencing Required: All junkyards shall be completely enclosed by a strongly constructed fence constructed of standard fencing material which shall completely shut off the view from outside of the contents of the junkyard. Such fence shall not be less than eight feet (8') in height and shall be kept painted or otherwise preserved so as to present a clean and neat appearance. No junk or other materials shall be piled or stacked against the fence or enclosure nor shall any junk be piled or stacked higher than the top of the fence or enclosure.
C. Abandoned Premises: Whenever any premises used as a junkyard shall cease to be used for such purpose, the owner or lessee, or their lawful successors shall, upon demand of the chief of police or city council, proceed at once to remove all cars, parts of cars, junk, rubbish and all materials used or kept in the operation of such junkyard, including fences required by this chapter in the operation of a junkyard, and place the premises in a neat, clean and sightly condition. If such owner, lessee or personal representative shall, upon such demand, fail or refuse to comply with the provisions of this section within ten (10) days of notice thereof, then such premises, the condition of which remains unabated, is declared to be a public nuisance. Such nuisance may be abated as other nuisances under the provision of this code, including, but not limited to, a fine in accordance with the general penalty provisions of section 1-4-1 of this code, for each day that such owner, lessee or successor shall fail or refuse to remove such material or place the premises in a neat, clean and sightly condition.
D. Existing Junkyards: The provisions of subsection B of this section shall not apply to "junkyards" as defined herein which are existing and in operation on a particular tract within the city on the effective date of this section. However, such junkyards may not be moved to another location or expanded on their present location, without complying with the restrictions herein. Subsection C of this section shall apply to all junkyards presently existing or established in the future. (Ord. 214, 1986)