Ordinance 2005-06
ORDINANCE NO. 2005-06
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF GILROY
PERTAINING TO THE REDUCTION OF AIR POLLUTION BY THE
REGULATION OF WOODBURNING APPLIANCES BY ADDING A NEW
ARTICLE V TO CHAPTER 6 OF THE GILROY CITY CODE ENTITLED
"REGULATION OF WOODBURNING APPLIANCES"
WHEREAS, the State Air Resources Board ("ARB") adopted a particulate matter ("PM
10") Ambient Air Quality Standard ("AAQS") in December, 1982, and levels for the PMI0
AAQS were selected pursuant to the California Code of Regulations, title 17, section 70200 to
protect the health of people who are sensitive to exposure to fine particles; and
WHEREAS, research indicates that woodsmoke is a significant contributor to PMI0
levels that pose significant health risks; and
WHEREAS, the City Council finds that the proposed regulation may significantly reduce
the increase in particulate emissions from woodburning appliances; and
WHEREAS, the City of Gilroy ("City"), through its Environmental Programs Division,
will work towards establishing and maintaining an ongoing program to educate the public on the
provisions of this ordinance and the health impact of wood smoke. This education program may
identify the various types of smoke reduction methods, including the use of cleaner burning
pellet stoves, manufactured fire logs, and gas fireplaces. The City will encourage public
education on fireplace and woodstove maintenance and encourage cleaner-burning alternatives
such as gas-fueled devices, pellet stoves and proper wood burning techniques to build hotter,
more efficient fires.
WHEREAS, the City will endeavor to provide public notification requesting that
residents curtail the burning of wood during poor air quality episodes as determined by the Bay
Area Air Quality Management District. Methods to notify the public may include a written
notice published in local newspapers, email notification by the Bay Area Air Quality
Management District and messages on public cable access channels.
WHEREAS, the City Council finds and determines that these woodburning combustion
emission regulations are necessary for public health, safety and welfare; and
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WHEREAS, this ordinance is exempt from the requirements of the California
Environmental Quality Act of 1970 ("CEQA"), as amended, and the guidelines promulgated
thereunder, pursuant to the provisions of the California Code of Regulations, title 14, section
15038, as an action taken by a regulatory agency, as authorized by state or local ordinance, to
assure the maintenance, restoration, enhancement, or protection of the environment where the
regulatory process involves procedures for protection ofthe environment.
NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF GILROY DOES
HEREBY ORDAIN AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION I
Chapter 6 of the City Code entitled "Buildings" is hereby amended by adding a new
Article V, entitled "Regulation of Wood burning Appliances" which shall read as follows:
ARTICLE V. REGULATION OF WOODBURNING APPLIANCES.
Sec. 6.35.
Applicability of Article.
(a) All woodburning appliances installed in new residential units. .
(b) All woodburning appliances installed in new commercial buildings including, but
not limited to, hotels and restaurants.
(c) A woodburning appliance shall comply with this ordinance if any of the following
apply: (1) it is being added to or replacing a woodburning or gas appliance in an existing
residential unit or commercial building ; (2) repairs or alterations are made to the
woodburning appliance that include changes to the opening size or height of a fireplace;
or (3) the residential unit or commercial building in which the woodburning appliance is
located is renovated or remodeled, and the renovation or remodel includes changes to the
opening size or height of an existing fireplace_
(d) Section 6.37(a) and (c) shall apply to any and all woodburning appliances.
6.36. Definitions.
(a) Bay Area Air Quality Management District means the air quality agency for the
San Francisco Bay Area pursuant to California Health and Safety Code section
40200.
(b) EP A means United States Environmental Protection Agency.
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(c) EP A certified wood heater means any wood heater that meets the standards in
Title 40, Part 60, Subpart AAA, Code of Federal Regulations in effect at the time
of installation and is certified and labeled pursuant to those regulations.
(d) Fireplace means any permanently installed masonry or factory-built woodburning
appliance, except a pellet-fueled wood heater, designed to be used with an air-to-
fuel ratio greater than or equal to 35 to 1.
(e) Garbage means all solid, semi-solid and liquid wastes generated from residential,
commercial and industrial sources, including trash, refuse, rubbish, industrial
wastes, asphaltic products, manure, vegetable or animal solids and semi-solid
wastes, and other discarded solid and semi-solid wastes.
(f) Gas fireplace means any device designated to burn natural gas in a manner that
simulates the appearance of a woodburning fireplace.
(g) Paints means all exterior and interior house and trim paints, enamels, varnishes,
lacquers, stains, primers, sealers, undercoatings, roof coatings, wood
preservatives, shellacs, and other paints or paint-like products.
(h) Paints solvents means all original solvents sold or used to thin paints or to clean
up painting equipment.
(i) Pellet-fueled wood heater means any woodburning appliance that operates
exclusively on wood pellets.
(j) Solid fuel means wood or any other non-gaseous or non-liquid fuel.
(k) Treated wood means wood of any species that has been chemically impregnated,
painted or similarly modified to improve resistance to insects or weathering.
(1) Waste petroleum products means any petroleum product or than gaseous fuels
that has been refined from crude oil, and has been used, and as a result of use, has
been contaminated with physical or chemical impurities.
(m) Woodburning appliance means fireplace, wood heater, or pellet-fired wood heater
or any similar device burning any solid fuel used for aesthetic or space-heating
purposes.
6.37. General Requirements.
It shall be unlawful to:
(a) Use any woodburning appliance when the Bay Area Air Quality
Management District issues a "Spare the Air Tonight" warning and when an
alternate approved heat source is available.
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(b) Install a woodburning appliance that is not one of the following: (1) a
pellet-fueled wood heater, (2) an EP A certified wood heater, or (3) an EP A
certified masonry fireplace should the EP A develop a masonry fireplace
certification program.
(c) Use any of the following prohibited fuels in a woodburning appliance:
Garbage
Paint solvents
Treated Wood
Coal
Plastic products
Glossy or colored papers
Rubber products
Particle board
Waste petroleum products
Salt water driftwood
Paints
6.38. Exemptions.
(a) Woodburning appliances specifically designed for cooking, outdoor fireplaces,
existing fireplaces, except as specifically provided in 6.35( c), gas and pellet fueled
appliances, permanently installed or dedicated gas log fireplaces, shall be exempt from all
provisions of this article. The Chief Building Official may approve an alternate wood
burning appliance, provided the Chief building Official finds that the proposed alternate
appliance meets or exceeds the standards established for an EP A certified wood heater.
(b) Historical buildings that are included or designated in the City of Gilroy's
Historic Preservation Inventory.
6.39. Enforcement.
(a) Prior to installation, any person who plans to install a woodburning appliance
shall submit documentation to the City of Gilroy Building Department demonstrating that
the appliance is a pellet-fueled wood heater, an EP A certified wood heater, or a fireplace
certified by EP A should EP A develop a fireplace certification program.
(b) Any person violating any of the provisions of this Ordinance shall be deemed
guilty of a infraction and upon conviction shall be punishable as provided by law.
SECTION II
If any section, subsection, sentence, clause or phrase of this ordinance is for any reason
held to be invalid or unconstitutional, such decision shall not affect the validity of the remaining
portions of this ordinance. The City Council of the City of Gilroy hereby declares that it would
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have passed and adopted this ordinance, and each section, subsection, sentence, clause or phrase
hereof, irrespective of the fact that anyone or more sections, subsections, sentences, clauses or
phrases may be declared invalid or unconstitutional.
SECTION III
This Ordinance shall be in full force and effect thirty (30) days after the date of its
passage and adoption.
PASSED AND ADOPTED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF GILROY this
21st day of March, 2005, by the following vote:
AYES:
COUNCILMEMBERS:
CORREA, DILLON, MORALES, VELASCO,
VALIQUETTE and PINHEIRO
GARTMAN
NOES:
COUNCILMEMBERS:
ABSENT:
COUNCILMEMBERS:
NONE
APPROVED:
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Rhonda Pellin, City Clerk
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Ordinance No. 2005-06
I, RHONDA PELLIN, City Clerk of the City of Gilroy, do hereby certify that the attached
Ordinance No. 2005-06 is an original ordinance, or a true and correct copy of a city ordinance,
duly adopted by the Council of the City of Gilroy at a regular meeting of said Council held on the
21st day of March, 2005, at which meeting a quorum was present, and has been published or
posted pursuant to law.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the Official Seal of
the City of Gilroy this 31st day of March, 2005.
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City Clerk of the City of Gilroy
(Seal)