bowtieman427
ArboristSite Lurker
- Joined
- Sep 2, 2014
- Messages
- 36
- Reaction score
- 6
I live in a town of 2500 in SEMN and many people here have wood stoves or burn wood outside. My wonderful neighbor hates that I burn wood. So they went to the city to complain. Got letter from the city and they stating that I need an enclosure or remove all fire wood. Fire wood all in back yard and stack along my 6 foot privacy fence. Not really seen accept by neighbor next store that has a chain link section for about 30 ft. there is NO wood along that. within a block there are poeple that have a lot more wood then I and some have it in front yard in plain view.
Per this city code they are stating below for the reason however further down in different section of code Fire wood is exempt from an enclosure, but he stated I have way to much about 3-5 full cords stacked about 5 ft high along the fence. and some in between trees.
SEC. 10.42. HAZARDOUS CONDITIONS.
Subd. 1. Preamble.
A. Private Property
. The Council finds that accumulation on private property of
unlicensed, unregistered or inoperable motor vehicles,
household furniture, furnishings or appliances, or
parts or components thereof, or metal, wood, glass,
paper, rubber, concrete, or
other material, whether
organic or inorganic, can facilitate the growth or
spread of noxious weeds, the nesting and breeding of
rodents, insects, and harmful bacteria, and be a threat of fire. The Council also finds that unless such
accumulation is stored in a lawfully operated junk yard, housed within a lawfully erected building, or in a
container designed for storage of such material for shor
t periods of time, and the contents disposed of on a
regular schedule, under provisions of
the City Code, it is a source of
filth, cause of sickness, and an
immediate danger to the health, safety and welfare of
persons and property in the City. The Council finds
that if such unauthorized, unwholesome and dangerous
accumulation is permitted to continue to pose
such a threat it is a hazardous condition and a nuisance,
must be abated, and that this Section is adopted to
protect the residents of the City and their property a
nd, in addition, to protect the rights of persons who
may be found in violation of its provisions. "Accumulation" as that term is used in this Subparagraph A,
means prohibited items in any number or amount.
What I find funny in the same ordinances a few paragraphs down
Subd. 2.
Exterior Storage.
A.
In residential districts, all materials and equi
pment shall be stored within a building or be
fully screened so as not to be visible from adjoinin
g properties, except for the following in good order:
laundry drying and recreational e
quipment, construction and land
scaping materials and equipment
currently being used on the premises, agricultural equi
pment and materials, if these are used or intended
for use on the premise's, off-street parking of passenger automobiles and pick-up trucks and fire wood.
Boats and unoccupied trailers, less than 25 feet in leng
th, are permissible. Existing uses shall comply with
this provision within 12 months of th
e effective date of this Chapter.
Specifically states Fire wood does NOT need an enclosure. And I let him know to me it specifically mentions we can store firewood on property. The City administrator stated to me there seems to be a contradiction and needs to talk to the city attorney. All my wood is in back yard and not very visible from the street. I agreed to move some wood to other part of back yard and put a tarp over it. But I am not removing it or building an enclosure.
Has anyone else had to deal with issues like this ??
Any suggestions to keep the city at bay for the future of firewood ?
Per this city code they are stating below for the reason however further down in different section of code Fire wood is exempt from an enclosure, but he stated I have way to much about 3-5 full cords stacked about 5 ft high along the fence. and some in between trees.
SEC. 10.42. HAZARDOUS CONDITIONS.
Subd. 1. Preamble.
A. Private Property
. The Council finds that accumulation on private property of
unlicensed, unregistered or inoperable motor vehicles,
household furniture, furnishings or appliances, or
parts or components thereof, or metal, wood, glass,
paper, rubber, concrete, or
other material, whether
organic or inorganic, can facilitate the growth or
spread of noxious weeds, the nesting and breeding of
rodents, insects, and harmful bacteria, and be a threat of fire. The Council also finds that unless such
accumulation is stored in a lawfully operated junk yard, housed within a lawfully erected building, or in a
container designed for storage of such material for shor
t periods of time, and the contents disposed of on a
regular schedule, under provisions of
the City Code, it is a source of
filth, cause of sickness, and an
immediate danger to the health, safety and welfare of
persons and property in the City. The Council finds
that if such unauthorized, unwholesome and dangerous
accumulation is permitted to continue to pose
such a threat it is a hazardous condition and a nuisance,
must be abated, and that this Section is adopted to
protect the residents of the City and their property a
nd, in addition, to protect the rights of persons who
may be found in violation of its provisions. "Accumulation" as that term is used in this Subparagraph A,
means prohibited items in any number or amount.
What I find funny in the same ordinances a few paragraphs down
Subd. 2.
Exterior Storage.
A.
In residential districts, all materials and equi
pment shall be stored within a building or be
fully screened so as not to be visible from adjoinin
g properties, except for the following in good order:
laundry drying and recreational e
quipment, construction and land
scaping materials and equipment
currently being used on the premises, agricultural equi
pment and materials, if these are used or intended
for use on the premise's, off-street parking of passenger automobiles and pick-up trucks and fire wood.
Boats and unoccupied trailers, less than 25 feet in leng
th, are permissible. Existing uses shall comply with
this provision within 12 months of th
e effective date of this Chapter.
Specifically states Fire wood does NOT need an enclosure. And I let him know to me it specifically mentions we can store firewood on property. The City administrator stated to me there seems to be a contradiction and needs to talk to the city attorney. All my wood is in back yard and not very visible from the street. I agreed to move some wood to other part of back yard and put a tarp over it. But I am not removing it or building an enclosure.
Has anyone else had to deal with issues like this ??
Any suggestions to keep the city at bay for the future of firewood ?
If you however decide to have a pet tiger in your back yard near my grandkids playhouse, that is much different. Or if you decide your hedge trimmings are ok to be thrown onto my side etc. effecting!
Usually its 25 to 50 dollars then get floodlights installed in your back yard and turn those 4 cords into 25 
