2018-739 ORDINANCE NO. 2018-739
An ordinance regulating composting on residential properties in the City of Janesville,
with penalties for violations thereof as set forth in J.G.O. 8.56.040 and J.G.O. 18.28.010.
THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF JANESVILLE DO ORDAIN AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION I. Section 18.32.030 of the Code of General Ordinances of the City of Janesville is
hereby amended to read as follows:
18.32.030 Permitted Obstructions in Required Setback Areas.
A. Except as otherwise regulated herein for a specific permitted or conditional use,
the following accessory buildings, structures and uses are permitted and may be allowed
obstructions in required setback areas where indicated by an X:
Front Interior Rear
setback side setback
and corner setback
side
setback
1. Awnings or canopies attached x x x
2. Arbors or trellises x x x
3. Attached air conditioning equipment x x x
4. Detached air conditioning equipment x x
5. Balconies — no balcony may be extended beyond the x x x
setback line more than eight feet or fifty percent of the
distance between the property line and the setback line,
whichever is the smaller.
6. Bay windows — projecting not more than three feet into x x
a setback
7. Chimneys, attached projecting not more than twenty- x x x
four inches into a setback
8. Eaves and gutters on principal buildings or attached x x x
accessory buildings projecting not more than four feet into
a front setback and rear setback and not more than
twenty-four inches into a side setback
9. Eaves and gutters on detached accessory buildings x
located in a rear setback projecting not more than
eighteen inches from the building wall adjoining a lot line
10. Fallout shelters, attached or detached, when x
conforming also with other codes and ordinances of the
city
11. Fences, walls and hedges up to 6 feet in height may x x
be permitted in the interior side and rear setback areas.
Within areas zoned R2, Limited General Residence
District a fence may also be placed in the corner side
setback up to halfway between the corner side of the
principal building and the corner side lot line provided that
it does not extend into the fence vision triangle formed by
the point of intersection between any right-of-way and any
alley or driveway and the two points located 15 feet from
the point of intersection along the right-of-way line and the
alley right-of-way line or the edge of the driveway. The
structural supports of the fence shall face to the inside of
the lot on which it is located. Fences within the front
setback area shall comply with subsection 12. Fences
shall be constructed only of material manufactured for use
as residential fencing, and never opaque metal of any
kind, unless approved by a building official. A plan
submittal to the Community Development Department
and a permit is required for each fence. The maximum
height of fences in commercial and industrial districts
shall not exceed twelve feet (12') in height or such height
as may be approved by the site plan review coordinator
for a specific fence.
12. Fences, walls and hedges no greater than thirty x x x
inches in height, or picket, wire mesh or similar fences
which are at least 50% open and which do not impair
vision, except for fences in areas zoned R2, Limited
General Residence District and are located in the corner
side setback as noted in subsection 11. The structural
support of the fence shall face to the inside of the lot on
which the fence is located. Fences shall be constructed
of material manufactured for use as residential fencing,
and never opaque metal of any kind, unless approved by
a building official. A plan submittal to the Community
Development Department and a permit is required for
each fence.
NOTE: Opaque privacy fences are only permitted within
the corner side yard setback and not within a front yard
setback.
NOTE: Sub-sections 11 and 12 shall not apply to fences
which were legally non-conforming prior to 11/13/00.
NOTE: This amendment to 11. and 12. regulates fences
by: Limiting privacy fence height to a maximum of six feet
except as provided; Requiring that structural supports be
placed inside of the lot on which the fence is located;
Requiring opaque fences to be located outside the vision
triangle area; Clarifying that fences within the front
setback area must be at least 50% open; Prohibiting
Fences not constructed of material manufactured for use
as fencing unless approved by a building official, and
Requiring a permit with plan submittal to the Code
Administration Department prior to construction.
13. Fire escapes, open or enclosed may project three feet x x
into a side setback or five feet into a rear setback
14. Flagpoles and garden ornaments x x x
15. Garages or carports, detached x x
16. Growing of farm and garden crops in the open x x
17. Compost bin or compost pile —when also conforming x
with other codes and ordinances of the city.
47.18. Home occupations Not permitted in any setback
48.19. Laundry drying lines or rods x x
4-9.20. Ornamental light standards x x x
28.21. Playground equipment x
24.22. Playhouses, summerhouses, and boathouses x
2 .23. Sills, belt courses, cornices and ornamental x x x
features of the principal building, projecting not more than
eighteen inches into a setback
23.24. Sheds and storage buildings for garden equipment x
and household items.
2425. Steps, open x x x
2-5.26. Swimming pools, private —when conforming also x x
with other codes and ordinances of the city
26.27. Patios and outdoor fireplaces x x
27.28. Tennis courts, private x
28.29. Trees, shrubs and flowers x x x
2-9.30. Other accessory buildings, structures, or uses x
customarily incidental to the primary use upon approval
by the building official.
SECTION II. The Title of Chapter 8.56 is hereby amended to read as follows:
NOXIOUS WEEDS, AND NATURAL LANDSCAPING, AND COMPOSTING
SECTION III. Section 8.56.035 of the Code of General Ordinances of the City of Janesville is
hereby created to read as follows:
8.56.035 Residential Compost Requirements
A. Purpose. The purpose of this section is to promote the recycling and beneficial reuse of
yard waste and organic material through composting and to establish minimum standards
for proper maintenance of compost piles and bins.
B. Composting Requirements. The generator of compostable materials shall be responsible
for maintaining compost piles and bins under his or her control as follows:
1. No compost bin shall exceed 125 cubic feet in volume and 5 feet in height.
2. All compost piles and bins shall be so maintained as to prevent the attraction or
harborage of rodents and pests.
3. All compost piles and bins shall be so maintained as to prevent the creation of odors
that would constitute a public nuisance.
4. No compost pile or bin shall be located in any yard except a rear yard. All compost
piles or bins shall be located not less than 5' from a property line or 20' from a
neighboring principal structure.
5. No compost bin shall contain any of the following:
a) Lake weeds, diseased plants.
b) Cooked food scraps, except coffee grounds and tea leaves.
c) Fish, meat, poultry, dairy products, oily foods, grease, foods containing
animal fats, bones, dog or cat waste.
d) Large items or items that will impede the composting process. Examples
of these items include large branches and logs, charcoal briquettes, and
sawdust from treated wood.
6. The following material may be placed in a compost bin:
a) Grass clippings, dry leaves, straw, dry hay, woodchips and sawdust from
untreated wood, shredded paper, egg and nut shells, hair and animal fur.
b) Raw vegetables and raw fruits suitable for composting.
c) Commercial compost additives.
ADOPTED: January 14, 2019 Motion by: Gruber
APPROVED: Second by: Conley
//4444
Councilmember Aye Nay Pass Absent
Mark A. Freitag, City Manager Conley X
ATT
: Farrell Farrell X
/
Gruber X
David T. Godek, City Clerk-Treasurer Jorgensen X
APPROVED AS TO FORM: Marklein X
22_ LJ Q �}-EWilliams X
�-'`'_" Wolfe X
Tim Wellnitz, Assistant City Attorney
Proposed by: Sustainable Janesville
Committee
Prepared by: Operations Division/Assistant
City Attorney