(A) Burn permit required. A burn permit shall be obtained from the Williamstown Township Hall prior to kindling a fire for any of the following purposes:
(1) Open burning, unless specifically excepted;
(2) Leaf or grass burning;
(3) Burning yard debris other than grass and leaves, such as brush, limbs and dead plant growth;
(4) Silviculture, range, wildlife or wildflower management practices; and
(5) Prevention or control of disease or pests.
(B) Permit not required. The burning exceptions listed in § 92.28 shall not require permits (exceptions in § 92.28 include: campfires, burning in a grill, on a camp stove, or in a fireplace, stove or furnace; burning household trash in an approved container; subject to the conditions in § 92.28 and restrictions in the table in § 92.20).
(C) Consent of landowner. The application for a burning permit shall be submitted by or have the written consent of the owner of the land upon which the fire is to be kindled.
(D) Permit application and contents. The permit application shall provide the name, address, driver's license number and telephone number of the applicant and property owner (if not the applicant), the location where the fire is to be set, the material that is to be burned and the proposed date and time of the fire. The permit shall be kept readily available at the site of the burning for inspection by any fire or police official who visits the site.
(E) Application and renewal procedures.
(1) The initial application for a burn permit shall be submitted in person at the Williamstown Township Hall. The burn permit shall remain valid for up to four consecutive days. Following the initial period of validity, a burn permit may be reactivated by the applicant by phone for additional periods of up to four days by calling the office that issued the initial permit during regular business hours. Reactivation of the burn permit shall be required each time an applicant wishes to burn.
(2) If an applicant has been cited for a violation of this chapter, the initial reactivation of the permit following the violation must be done in person. However, a permit may not be reactivated, and an applicant may not obtain a new permit, within six months after a violation (unless the Fire Chief has recommended a longer waiting period). The length of the waiting period related to a violation may be appealed to the Township Board.
(3) The imposition of a permit waiting period shall not affect or limit the penalties that may be imposed pursuant to § 92.99.
(F) Permit conditions.
(1) When granting a permit, the Fire Chief or his or her designee may establish conditions under which the burning may occur.
(2) For example, the permit may specify the specific materials that may be burned and the date(s) and time(s) that the burning may occur.
(Ord. 41, passed 10-1-2002; Ord. passed 8-5-2003)