Article 15.26 — AIR QUALITY IN THE MARTIS VALLEY

The Placer County board of supervisors finds that:

• A. The particulate matter pollution in the Martis Valley and its environs at times exceeds health based ambient air quality standards; and

• B. There are adverse health, economic and environmental effects that particulate matter have on residents and visitors of the Martis Valley.

• C. Key control strategies are (1) Limit emissions from solid fuel burning appliances and total emissions from residential units, such that emission limits from appliances should not exceed the emission requirements for an EPA-certified Phase II woodstove, and total emissions of PM10 from a residential unit should not exceed 7.5 grams per hour; (2) Facilitate the removal or replacement of non-certified woodstoves and fireplace inserts, thereby reducing PM10 and PM2.5 emissions from these gross-polluting appliances.

• D. Accordingly, the Placer County board of supervisors finds that the health, safety, and general welfare of the residents of, persons employed in, and persons who frequent this portion of Placer County would be benefited by the regulation of emissions from solid fuel burning appliances; and by the removal of non-county approved appliances prior to the sale or transfer of real property that contains such appliances.

• (Ord. 5255-B (Exh. 1-A), 2003)

This section provides definitions of terms and phrases used in this article that are technical or specialized, or that may not reflect common usage. If any of the definitions in this article conflict with definitions in other provisions of the Placer County Code, these definitions shall control for the purposes of this article. Other terms are as defined in other portions of the Placer County Code, and if none, under provisions of applicable state or federal law. The following terms, words and/or phrases shall have the meaning herein provided:

"EPA" means the United States Environmental Protection Agency.

"EPA certified appliance" means any wood or other solid fuel burning appliance utilized for space or water heating or cooking that meets the performance and emission standards set forth in Part 60, Title 40, Subpart AAA, Code of Federal Regulations. Phase I appliances must meet the emission requirements of not more than 5.5 grams per hour of PM10 emissions for catalytic and 8.5 grams per hour for non-catalytic appliances. Phase II requirements are 4. 1 and 7.5 grams per hour, respectively.

"Open masonry fireplace" means any solid fuel burning appliance primarily constructed on site of masonry products such as brick, stone, clay, or other pre-cast stone or concrete products.

"Martis Valley" means that geographical area defined as such in the Martis Valley Community Plan.

"Pellet fueled wood heater" means any solid fuel burning appliance designed to heat the interior of a building that operates on pelletized wood and has an automatic feed.

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Placer County, CA

PLACER COUNTY CODE

§ 15.26.020

§ 15.26.030

"Permanently inoperable" means modified in such a way that the appliance can no longer function as a solid fuel burning appliance or be easily re-modified to function as a solid fuel burning appliance. Conversion to gaseous or liquid fuels, such as natural gas, is permitted.

"Placer County approved solid fuel burning appliance" means: (a) An open masonry fireplace constructed in accordance with these regulations applicable at the time of construction; (b) A zero-clearance fireplace constructed in accordance with these regulations applicable at the time of construction; (c) An open masonry fireplace that is physically incapable of burning solid fuel and burns natural or liquid propane gas as its fuel through a ceramic or otherwise non-combustible gas log that is permanently installed in the fireplace; (d) An EPA Certified Appliance, including appliances meeting the emission requirements for Phase I certification; (e) An appliance certified as meeting the emission requirements of the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality; (f) A pellet fueled wood heater; (g) A zero clearance fireplace that is not an EPA Certified Appliance and is approved for use by the San Luis Obispo air pollution control district as shown on their most current "List of APCD-Approved Wood Burning Devices"; and (h) A wood stove used for ornamental purposes that has been rendered permanently inoperable.

Oregon Department of Environmental Quality; (f) A pellet fueled wood heater; (g) A zero clearance fireplace that is not an EPA Certified Appliance and is approved for use by the San Luis Obispo air pollution control district as shown on their most current "List of APCD-Approved Wood Burning Devices"; and (h) A wood stove used for ornamental purposes that has been rendered permanently inoperable.

"Solid fuel burning appliance, heater, or device" means any fireplace, fireplace insert, wood stove, wood heating device, or coal stove or structure that burns wood, coal, or any other nongaseous or no-liquid fuels, or any similar device burning any solid fuel for aesthetic, water heating, or space heating purposes.

(Ord. 5255-B (Exh. 1-A), 2003)

• A. No solid fuel-burning appliance shall be installed within the Martis Valley unless the solid fuel burning appliance is:

  1. An EPA certified appliance meeting the emission requirements for Phase II certification;

  2. A pellet fueled wood heater;

  3. An open masonry fireplace that is physically not capable of burning solid fuel and supplied with gas and fitted with artificial logs;

  4. An open masonry fireplace located in a hotel/motel lobby or similar common area lobby or in the common area of a condominium project, or

  5. A zero clearance fireplace that is not an EPA certified appliance and is approved for use by the San Luis Obispo air pollution control district as shown on their most current "List of APCD-Approved Wood Burning Devices".

• B. There shall be no combination of solid fuel-burning appliances and/or pellet fueled wood heaters within a dwelling unit or within a business that will exceed 7.5 grams per hour of particulate matter emissions except for one fireplace located in a hotel/motel lobby or similar common area lobby. Notwithstanding the emission restrictions of this subsection, an existing solid fuel-burning appliance may be replaced with an EPA certified appliance meeting the emission requirements for Phase II certification.

• C. Solid fuel-burning appliances shall not be the primary form of heat in any new construction.

• D. A new or replacement solid fuel burning appliance, including previously used appliances,

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Placer County, CA

BUILDING AND DEVELOPMENT

§ 15.26.030

§ 15.26.050

shall not be installed without first obtaining a building permit from the building department All installations shall require an inspection and approval by the building department prior to operation.

• E. It shall be unlawful for any person to sell, offer for sale, supply, or install for use in the Martis Valley a used solid fuel burning appliance which has been removed from its dwelling unit or commercial or industrial building unless the appliance has been rendered permanently inoperable or unless it is:

  1. An EPA certified appliance meeting the emission requirements for Phase II certification; or

  2. A pellet fueled wood heater.

This regulation does not prohibit the sale of any solid fuel-burning appliance that is transferred as an appurtenance to a dwelling unit or commercial or industrial building in compliance with this article.

• F. Verification of compliance may be certified by an individual certified by the Wood Heating Education and Research Foundation for the installation of solid fuel appliances, by licensed contractors, by certified home inspectors, or by individuals who in the sole opinion of the building department possess equivalent certification. The compliance verification inspector of record shall verify in writing, on a form approved by the building department, that the appliance complies with the required emission standards and shall file that certification with the building department. Individuals seeking to verify compliance shall verify their qualifications with the building department before appliance certification will be accepted by Placer County.

• (Ord. 5255-B (Exh. 1-A), 2003)

It shall be unlawful for any person to cause or allow any of the following materials to be burned in a solid fuelburning appliance:

• A. Garbage;

• B. Treated wood;

• C. Plastic products;

• D. Rubber products;

• E. Waste petroleum;

• F. Paints and paint solvents;

• G. Coal having sulfur content of more than 0.5 percent by weight as measured by ASTM Test Method D3177-84.

• (Ord. 5255-B (Exh. 1-A), 2003)

• A. Prior to the completion or consummation of a sale or transfer of any real property on or after January 1, 2004, all existing solid fuel burning appliances that are not Placer County

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Placer County, CA § 15.26.050

PLACER COUNTY CODE

§ 15.26.060

approved appliances shall be replaced, removed, or rendered permanently inoperable unless such sale or transfer is exempt from the requirements of this article.

• B. It shall be unlawful for any person or other legal entity acting in the capacity of a seller, buyer, transferor, or transferee to complete or consummate a sale or transfer on or after January 1, 2004, which transfers real property located in the Martis Valley unless:

  1. The real property has been issued a certificate of compliance for solid fuel burning appliances in accordance with this article;

  2. The real property has been issued a certificate of exemption for solid fuel burning appliances in accordance with this article;

  3. The sale or transfer of the real property is a foreclosure sale, a trustee's sale, or an involuntary transfer under a deed of trust; or

  4. The sale or transfer of the real property is not subject to the documentary transfer tax.

• C. The building department may, upon written request, grant an extension of time not exceeding six months after the sale or transfer of the real property for the buyer or transferee to comply with the requirements of this article if the primary source of heat for the house is/are non-county approved solid fuel burning appliances as determined by the building department.

• (Ord. 5255-B (Exh. 1-A), 2003)

Certificates shall be on a form approved by the building department. Prior to the sale or transfer of real property either a Certificate of Compliance or Certificate of Exemption shall be issued pursuant to this section:

• A. Certificate of Compliance.

  1. A qualified individual as designated in subsection 15.26.030(F) shall issue an inspection report only upon physical inspection of the real property. The inspection report shall identify all solid fuel burning appliances on the real property as defined by this article and shall state whether the appliance is a county approved appliance or a non-county approved appliance. The inspector's fees shall be paid by the seller, unless buyer and seller otherwise agree.

  2. If the inspection reveals that there are no non-county approved appliances and the real property complies with the requirements of this article, the inspection report shall be submitted to the building department within five business days of the date of inspection. If the inspection report states that each solid fuel burning appliance is a county approved appliance, then the inspection report may be stamped approved by the building department. An inspection report stamped approved by the building department shall be considered a Certificate of Compliance, and each solid fuel burning appliance within the residence shall be Deemed certified for the purposes of compliance with this article.

  3. No inspection report shall be accepted and stamped approved by the building department unless it states that each solid fuel-burning appliance is a county approved appliance.

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Placer County, CA

BUILDING AND DEVELOPMENT

§ 15.26.060

§ 15.26.080

4. A Certificate of Compliance issued pursuant to this article does not constitute a warranty or guarantee by the licensed inspector or the County of Placer, or its employees or agents, that the solid fuel burning appliance meets any other standards of operation, efficiency, or safety.

• B. Certificate of Exemption.

  1. If real property is to be sold or transferred and meets one of the following requirements, a Request for Certificate of Exemption for Solid Fuel Burning Appliances, containing the notarized signatures of the seller and buyer or transferee and transferor of the real property attesting to the facts of the exemption, may be accepted in lieu of an inspection report.

     • a. There are no solid fuel burning appliances on the real property;

     • b. There are solid fuel burning appliances on the real property, but all appliances are open masonry fireplaces or zero-clearance fireplaces constructed in accordance with Placer County regulations applicable at the time of construction or burns natural or liquid propane gas as its fuel through a ceramic or otherwise non-combustible gas log that is permanently installed in the fireplace; or

     • c. A Certificate of Compliance for Solid Fuel Burning Appliances was previously issued to the real property in accordance with this article.

2. The seller and buyer or transferor and transferee shall submit the Request for Certificate of Exemption to the building department. If the Request for Certificate of Exemption is in order and if the building department has no knowledge or evidence that statements made in the Request for Certificate of Exemption may be false, then the request may be stamped approved by the building department. A Request for Exemption stamped approved by the building department shall be considered a Certificate of Exemption issued by the county.

• C. Subsequent Transfers. On any subsequent sale or transfer, a new certificate shall be required.

• (Ord. 5255-B (Exh. 1-A), 2003)

Prior to the provision of services pursuant to this article, the Placer County building department shall charge and collect the following fees for services performed:

A minimum one-hour fee as prescribed in Section 15.04.050 of the Placer County Code, but not less than $60, shall be collected for processing a Building Department Administrative Permit for issuance of an approved Certificate of Compliance or Exemption.

A minimum five-hour fee as prescribed in Section 15.04.050 of the Placer County Code, but not less than $250, shall be collected for processing a Request for Extension of Time. (Ord. 5255-B (Exh. 1-A), 2003)

Any person who violates any of the requirements of this article, or who falsely attests as to information as part of compliance with this article, is subject to the penalties and punishments

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Placer County, CA

PLACER COUNTY CODE

§ 15.26.080

§ 15.26.080

as set forth in this Placer County Code and/or any other applicable provisions of state or federal law, and may have any license, permit or certificate issued by the building department pursuant to this article revoked.

(Ord. 5255-B (Exh. 1-A), 2003)

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Placer County, CA