Junk yards and motor vehicle wrecking yards may receive vehicles, vehicle parts and other personal property that have been stolen from the rightful owners. Junk yards and motor vehicles wrecking yards also pose potential hazards to the community, because they are usually unsightly and likely to impact surrounding properties and they may also attract children or others who will not appreciate the hazards presented by these businesses. It is necessary to regulate junk yards and motor vehicle wrecking yards by requiring them to keep and maintain detailed records of items they buy to maximize recovery of stolen items and to prevent dealers from trafficking in stolen goods. It is also necessary to regulate the manner in which these businesses are carried out to protect the community from potential hazards. This chapter is to be construed to carry out these goals.
(Added by Ord. No. 9889 (N.S.), effective 10-26-07)
The following definitions shall apply to this chapter:
(a) "Dealer" means a person who operates a junk yard or a motor vehicle wrecking yard.
(b) "Inoperative vehicle" means a motor vehicle that cannot be moved under its own power.
(c) "Junk" means secondhand or used: machinery, equipment, appliances, furniture, motor vehicle parts, tires, lumber, rope, bottles, pipe, wire, drums, scrap metal, construction material, packaging material, items made of, or containing wood, metal, paper, plastic, clay, brick, glass, porcelain, rubber, concrete, or other personal property.
(d) "Junk yard" means real property used for dismantling, salvage, outside storage, purchase, sale or exchange of junk. It is not an exception to this definition that a person intends or proposes to use the junk for some purpose.
(e) "Motor vehicle" has the same definition as the term "motor vehicle" in California Vehicle Code section 415.
(f) "Motor vehicle wrecking yard" means a place where wrecked or inoperative motor vehicles are stored, kept, parked, left, accumulated, exchanged, crushed, dismantled, sold, sold for parts, sold for scrap or for any other purpose. Any parcel or property made up of one or more contiguous parcels having three or more wrecked or inoperative motor vehicles shall be considered a motor vehicle wrecking yard and subject to the requirements of this chapter. An automotive repair dealer registered with the California Department of Consumer Affairs under Business and Professions Code section 9884 that temporarily stores inoperative or wrecked motor vehicles while the vehicles are being repaired, however, is not subject to this chapter.
(g) "Wrecked motor vehicle" means a motor vehicle that is damaged to such an extent that it cannot be operated safely on the highway.
(Amended by Ord. No. 9889 (N.S.), effective 10-26-07)
It shall be unlawful for a person to operate a junk yard or a motor vehicle wrecking yard in the unincorporated area of the County without obtaining a license from the Issuing Officer. The Sheriff shall be the Issuing Officer for any license required by this chapter. A person may operate a yard that is both a junk yard and motor vehicle wrecking yard, but is only required to obtain one license under this chapter. The license required by this chapter shall be subject to sections 21.101-21.117 of this code and this chapter. No person shall be eligible for a license under this chapter until he obtains a Major Use Permit from the County Department of Planning and Development Services, for the junk yard or motor vehicle wrecking yard, under applicable County zoning regulations.
(Amended by Ord. No. 5200 (N.S.), effective 8-10-78; amended by Ord. No. 5290 (N.S.), effective 11-30-78; amended by Ord. No. 7428 (N.S.), effective 2-4-88; amended by Ord. No. 8049 (N.S.), effective 5-7-92; amended by Ord. No. 9889 (N.S.), effective 10-26-07; amended by Ord. No. 10224 (N.S.), effective 10-25-12)
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