Contra Costa County Municipal Code Ch. 88-4 Junkyards

This chapter shall be known and may be designated as the junkyard ordinance of Contra Costa County.

(Ord. 1513: prior code § 8330).

It is declared by the board of supervisors that the business of salvaging and wrecking automobiles, the storage and salvaging of scrap materials, the salvaging, storing, and selling of salvaged building materials and other waste matter and junk is affected by the public interest. These businesses are useful and necessary occupations and essential to the economic life and welfare of the county. At the same time these businesses have a tendency to and often do become nuisances. Rats, vermin, insects, and other pests find breeding places in premises where these occupations are carried on. Small children without sufficient age to have sound discretion find places to play in these premises to their own danger and to the danger of the community. Materials stored on these premises may be fire hazards from spontaneous or accidental combustion. These materials, where improperly laid up and stored, become habitats and hiding places for vagrants and other undesirable persons. They are unsightly, offensive to the senses and interfere with the comfortable and enjoyable use of land in the vicinity. The public interest and the protection of the public health, safety, and welfare, the conservation of property value, and the encouragement of the orderly development of the county require that these occupations be regulated.

(Prior code § 8331: Ord. 934).

For the purposes of this chapter, "junkyard" means any property used (whether or not for profit or gain) for (1) the dismantling or wrecking of automobiles or other vehicles or machinery, or (2) the storage or salvage of automobiles or other vehicles or machinery, scrap metal, or other scrap materials, including salvaged building materials.

(Ord. 81-35 § 1: prior code § 8332: Ords. 934, 644, 455, 226).

Any violation of this chapter is declared to be a public nuisance. The district attorney, when directed by the board of supervisors, shall commence the action or proceedings necessary and convenient to abate the nuisance.

(Prior code § 8338: Ord. 934).

Article 88-4.4. Permits

No person shall establish or maintain a junkyard in this county without first obtaining a permit as provided in this chapter.

(Prior code § 8333: Ord. 934).

(a) The owner of any premises not covered by the regulations of Divisions 82 or 84 may apply to the board of adjustment for a permit under this chapter and under the procedures set forth in Chapter 26-2.

(b) The owner of any premises covered by the regulations of Divisions 82 and 84 may apply to the board of adjustment for a permit under this chapter and under the procedures set forth in Chapter 26-2, if the land use district classification of the premises allows an application to be made.

(c) The owner of any premises covered by interim zoning regulations may apply to the board of adjustment for a permit under this chapter and under the procedures set forth in Chapter 26-2, if the interim land use district classification of the premises allows an application to be made.

(Prior code § 8335: Ord. 1268).

In granting any permit, the planning commission shall condition the permit on the furnishing by the applicant of a surety company bond in the penal sum of one thousand dollars, the condition of which shall be that the permittee shall comply with this chapter and any conditions which may be imposed on the permit, to insure the payment of any fine which may be imposed on the permittee, any costs of suit to secure the abatement of a nuisance, or to pay any judgment rendered against the permittee in favor of the county, all within the limits of the bond. The planning commission shall not grant a permit for a junkyard in any district where it is not allowed to be granted by Division 82, or in any case where it will conflict with the master plan of the county.

(Prior code § 8336: Ord. 934).

Article 88-4.6 Existing Junkyard Permits

The owner of any premises which on January 1, 1955, were lawfully being used for a junkyard, as defined in Section 88-4.206, is granted a permit by the operation of this section for the purposes of Section 88-4.402, for the maintenance of a junkyard coextensive with the area of the premises that were then actually being used as a junkyard, subject to the following conditions:

(1) All scrap and salvage materials shall be placed and maintained in a manner that it will not become a habitat or breeding place for rodents, insects, or other vermin or pests.

(2) Stored and salvage materials shall be so placed and maintained that they will not encourage spontaneous or accidental combustion, and shall be so placed and maintained that spontaneous or accidental combustion within one lot, pile, or parcel will not spread to other materials, nor stacked more than ten feet high or within six feet of the fence.

(3) Any material subject to rot or decay shall be so placed, stored, piled, or maintained that no disease or pest harmful to human beings, stock, or crops will exist.

(4) The premises shall be kept free from noxious weeds, and all vegetation shall be kept under such control that it will not be a hiding place or habitat for vermin, insects, or other pests, or cause or create or contribute to any fire hazard.

(5) All vegetation shall be kept down from a distance of six feet outside the fence line.

(6) A stout, solid fence shall be maintained around each junkyard. It shall be at least eight feet high, painted and maintained in good condition, of such materials and structure that it cannot be penetrated or climbed, without difficulty, and will discourage the migration of rodents or other small animals in or out of the premises. All scrap and salvaged materials and all wrecked or stored automobiles shall be kept inside the fence.

(Prior code § 8334(a): Ord. 934).

The owner of any premises which are granted a permit under Section 88-4.602 for an existing junkyard may apply under this chapter for a permit which may be subject to other conditions than those specified in Section 88-4.602.

(Prior code § 8334(b): Ord. 934).

The owner of any premises which are granted a permit under Section 88-4.602 shall bring the premises into full compliance with this chapter within six months after March 26, 1955. A failure to bring the premises into full compliance and thereafter to maintain the premises in compliance with this chapter shall be grounds for the revocation of the permit.

(Prior code § 8334(c): Ord. 934).