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Greenville County, SC Code of Ordinances
GREENVILLE COUNTY, SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF ORDINANCES
CHAPTER 1: GENERAL PROVISIONS
CHAPTER 2: ADMINISTRATION
CHAPTER 2.5: ADULT-ORIENTED BUSINESSES
CHAPTER 3: AMUSEMENTS
CHAPTER 4: ANIMALS AND FOWL
CHAPTER 5: BUILDINGS AND CONSTRUCTION
CHAPTER 6: EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT
CHAPTER 7: FINANCE AND TAXATION
CHAPTER 8: FLOOD CONTROL, DRAINAGE, STORMWATER MANAGEMENT
CHAPTER 9: GARBAGE AND REFUSE
CHAPTER 10: HUMAN RELATIONS AND RESOURCES
CHAPTER 11: LAW ENFORCEMENT
CHAPTER 12: LIBRARIES, MUSEUMS AND CULTURAL FACILITIES
CHAPTER 13: MOBILE AND MANUFACTURED HOMES; TRAILERS
CHAPTER 14: MOTOR VEHICLES AND TRAFFIC
CHAPTER 15: OFFENSES AND MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
CHAPTER 16: RESERVED
CHAPTER 17: PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT
CHAPTER 18: ROADS, HIGHWAYS AND RIGHTS-OF-WAY
CHAPTER 19: SIGNS
CHAPTER 20: UTILITY SERVICES
CHAPTER 21: BUSINESS REGULATIONS
APPENDIX A: ZONING ORDINANCE
APPENDIX B: RESERVED
APPENDIX C: LAND DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS
APPENDIX D: FRANCHISES
APPENDIX E: STORMWATER BANKING PROGRAM MANUAL
TABLE OF ORDINANCES
PARALLEL REFERENCES
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§ 9-53 FINDINGS; PURPOSE.
   The Greenville County council finds that junkyards:
      (1)   Are a visual blight and are patently offensive to the aesthetic quality of the environment in Greenville County;
      (2)   Pose a hazard to the health, safety and welfare of the citizens of the county;
      (3)   Pose a fire hazard, and may cause soil and groundwater contamination;
      (4)   Pose a threat of injury to children or other individuals who may be attracted to the premises;
      (5)   Depreciate the value of surrounding properties and may inhibit future development of the area.
   Because of the negative impacts that junkyards have on the community, the county council hereby adopts this article, the purpose of which is to provide standards for the establishment, use, and maintenance of junkyards in the county so as to protect the health, safety and general welfare of the citizens of Greenville County.
(1976 Code, § 9-53) (Ord. 1777, § 3, passed 12-15-1987; Ord. 2467, § 1, passed 6-15-1993)
§ 9-54 DEFINITIONS.
   As used herein, the following terms shall have the meanings given below:
   Evergreen screening shall mean evergreen trees or shrubs with a minimum height of not less than 8 feet when mature. Acceptable species include, but are not limited to, Ligustrum, Euonymous, Leyland Cypress, White Pine, Cedar, Arborvitae, Hemlock, and upright varieties of Juniper, Holly and Yew. Other species may be approved by the zoning manager.
   Fence shall mean an 8-foot tall chain link or wooden fence which forms a substantial physical barrier which is capable of withstanding the effects of the local climate and which completely surrounds the items defined as “junk”. Other fencing materials may be approved by the zoning manager.
   Junk shall include, but not be limited to abandoned barrels or drums, dismantled or inoperable industrial or commercial equipment or machinery being salvaged for parts, and the following old, scrap or used items: Metal; rope; rags; batteries; paper; cardboard; plastic; rubber; pallets; appliances; motors; industrial or commercial fixtures; rubbish; debris; wrecked, dismantled or disabled motor vehicles or parts thereof.
   Junkyard shall mean any property which is used in part or in whole for storing, keeping, buying or selling of items defined as “junk” in this section. For the purpose of this article, properly licensed sanitary landfills are exempt.
   Visual screen shall mean a static barrier which shields the junkyard from view. The visual screen shall extend from the ground to a height of 8 feet and shall completely enclose the junkyard. Not more than 25% of the vertical surface shall be open to allow the passage of air, but any such openings shall be designed to obscure visibility.
(1976 Code, § 9-54) (Ord. 1777, § 5, passed 12-15-1987; Ord. 2467, § 2, passed 6-15-1993)
§ 9-55 APPLICABILITY.
   In order to fulfill the purposes for which this article is adopted, the provisions of this article shall apply to all junkyards located in the unincorporated areas of the county, regardless of when such junkyards were established.
(1976 Code, § 9-55) (Ord. 1777, § 4, passed 12-15-1987)
§ 9-56 CERTAIN AREAS NOT TO BE CONSTRUED AS JUNKYARDS OR MOTOR VEHICLE GRAVEYARDS.
   The definitions of “junkyard” and “motor vehicle graveyard” shall not include garbage dumps, sanitary landfills, scrap metal processors, establishments, or places of business which are located within a completely enclosed structure, or establishments or places of business which exclusively perform motor vehicle repair work or towing/wrecker service and do not sell wrecked, scrapped, ruined or dismantled motor vehicles or motor vehicle parts.
(1976 Code, § 9-56) (Ord. 1777, § 5, passed 12-15-1987)
§ 9-57 PERMIT REQUIREMENTS.
   (a)   All junkyards shall, within 60 days after the effective date of this section (June 15, 1993), obtain a “junkyard operation permit” and a letter stating the junkyard complies with the requirements of this section. Such permit and letter of compliance shall be valid until March first of the following calendar year. No fee shall be charged for 1993, but a written request for reinspection, accompanied by a $20 reinspection fee, must be submitted to the office of the zoning manager no later than January fifteenth of each successive year. The zoning manager, or his designee, shall then inspect the premises, notify the junkyard operator of any corrections that need to be made, and issue the “junkyard operation permit” and letter of compliance after completion of any required corrections.
   (b)   No person shall establish, enlarge, or operate a junkyard after the effective date of this article without first complying with the provisions set forth herein.
(1976 Code, § 9-57) (Ord. 1777, § 8, passed 12-15-1987; Ord. 2467, § 6, passed 6-15-1993)
§ 9-58 PENALTIES FOR NONCOMPLIANCE.
   (a)   Any person, firm, corporation or agent, who shall violate the provisions of this division shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be punished within the jurisdictional limits of magistrate’s court. Each such person, firm, corporation or agent shall be deemed guilty of a separate offense for each and every day or portion thereof during which any violation of any of the provisions of this division is committed or continued.
   (b)   The county may also seek injunctive relief or may institute any other appropriate action in courts of competent jurisdiction to enforce the provisions of this article.
(1976 Code, § 9-58) (Ord. 1777, § 10, passed 12-15-1987; Ord. 2626, § 3, passed 9-6-1994)
§ 9-59 VARIANCE PROCEDURE.
   (a)   The board of zoning appeals may authorize, upon written appeal, such variance from the terms of this article as will not be contrary to the public interest where, owing to special conditions, a literal enforcement of the provisions of this article would result in unnecessary hardship or peculiar and exceptional practical difficulties. An applicant shall file a written request for a variance with the director of the building standards department, or his designee, within 10 days after such applicant has received written notification that a violation of this article has been committed. The request shall specify the nature of the variance being sought and the reasons for such request.
   (b)   Notice shall be given at least 15 days in advance of a public hearing. The owner of the property for which the variance is requested or his agent shall be notified by mail. Notice of hearings shall be made in a newspaper of general circulation, posted on the property for which a variance is requested, and posted at Greenville County Square.
   (c)   When an applicant requests a variance from the terms of this article, the building standards department shall provide the applicant or his designated representative with an adequate number of notice of public hearing signs to allow the applicant or his designated representative to properly post and maintain on the property a notice of public hearing at least 10 days prior to the date of the board of zoning appeals hearing. Only such signs as provided by the building standards department shall be used and such signs shall be placed in a conspicuous place or places on the affected premises. Failure to comply with the posting requirements will result in removal of the application from the public hearing agenda and forfeiture of the application fee. All signs must be removed within 30 days after the public hearing.
   (d)   A variance from the terms of this article may be granted by the board upon a finding that:
      (1)   The variance requested is the minimum variance that will make possible the legal use of the land.
      (2)   Owing to special conditions, a literal enforcement of the provisions of this ordinance would result in unnecessary hardship or peculiar and exceptional practical difficulties.
      (3)   The variance requested will be in harmony with the general purpose and intent of this article and will not be injurious to the neighborhood or otherwise detrimental to the public welfare.
(1976 Code, § 9-59) (Ord. 1777, § 9, passed 12-15-1987; Ord. 2467, § 7, passed 6-15-1993; Ord. 2530, § 1, passed 12-6-1993)
§ 9-60 GENERAL PROVISIONS FOR JUNKYARDS.
   (a)   Fencing and screening. All junkyards shall be enclosed on all sides by a chain link fence with evergreen screening of an approved type, a chain link fence with vinyl, metal or wooden strips or slats woven into the fence fabric, a wooden privacy fence, or other type material which has been given approval by the zoning manager.
   (b)   Anchoring. All metal or wooden fence posts shall have at least 1/3 of their length below ground level and shall be set in hard-packed clay or concrete. All metal fence posts shall be treated with an anti-corrosive coating. All wooden posts shall be pressure treated or creosote coated lumber with at least a 4-inch by 4-inch nominal cross section.
   (c)   Location. No junkyard shall be established within 500 feet of any existing church, school, cemetery or dwelling. No junkyard shall be established within 500 feet of the following scenic corridors:
      (1)   U.S. Highway 25 north of Travelers Rest.
      (2)   U.S. Highway 276 west of the Town of Cleveland.
      (3)   S.C. Highways 11, 290, 414, 418, 101 or 146.
      (4)   S.C. Highway 253 from Altamont Road to Highway 414.
      (5)   Interstate Highways 85, 185 and 385.
      (6)   S.C. Highway 14 north of Greer city limits.
      (7)   Old U.S. Highway 25.
      (8)   Reedy Fork Road and Fork Shoals Road south of Donaldson Center.
(1976 Code, § 9-60) (Ord. 1777, § 6, passed 12-15-1987; Ord. 2467, § 4, passed 6-15-93)
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