(A) Permits required.
(1) It shall be unlawful for any person to enter into, operate, or begin business as a junk yard unless such an operation is located in a district zoned for such purpose and the business is in compliance with all applicable building, code, health, and fire safety codes.
(2) Any junk yard operating within the City of Hammond for any length of time must first procure from the City Controller a permit/license for the operation of the junk yard. Operating without a permit/license is a violation of ordinance, and each day of operation is a continuing violation.
(3) The permit/license shall be $100 a year, beginning on January 1 and expiring on December 31 of each year.
(4) Any junk yard not obtaining a license by January 31 of each year shall be required to pay $300 for the license.
(5) Regardless of the date obtained, the annual permit/license will expire December 31 of each year.
(6) The City Controller has the discretion to issue permits/licenses, and a permit may be revoked or denied renewal by the Controller's Office.
(B) Junk yard operations.
(1) Cooperation. An applicant for a junk yard license shall cooperate fully in the inspection by city inspection authorities, and provide all information or documents requested and answer truthfully during the application process. Failure to do so may serve as grounds for denial, revocation or nonrenewal of the annual license/permit.
(2) Safe operation. All junk yards shall be kept in a neat, secure and orderly condition and shall be operated in a manner that does not create a hazard to the health and welfare of the citizens of Hammond.
(3) Salvage yard prohibited. No junk yard operating within the City of Hammond may operate as a salvage yard.
(4) New/used car dealership. A junk yard license/permit does not authorize, permit or allow a junk yard to act as, operate as, or allow the junk yard to sell new or used cards. No junk yard may operate as a new/used car dealership, or car wholesaler.
(5) Titles required. Any vehicle received by a junk yard must have a title that corresponds to/belongs with the vehicle being junked. A junk yard which accepts a vehicle without a title violates this section and may forfeit its license/permit to operate in the City of Hammond.
(6) Junk yard not a tow yard. A junk yard is not a tow yard. A towing license is not a junk yard license and a junk yard license is not a towing license. Junk yards and tow yards must remain physically separate.
(Prior Code, § 118.04) (Am. Ord. 8600, passed 8-24-2004; Am. Ord. 8879, passed 9-10-07) Penalty, see § 10.99