Torrance Municipal Code Art. 4 Litter

a) Whenever used in this Article, the word litter shall include garbage and refuse as defined in Section 43.1.1. of this Chapter, abandoned motor vehicles, junk, and all other waste materials which, if thrown or deposited as herein prohibited tends to create a danger to public health, safety and welfare. Newspapers placed on private property shall not be deemed to be litter provided they are deposited in such manner as to prevent their being carried away by the elements.

b) Whenever used in this Article, the words public street, park or place shall include any public street, sidewalk, curb, gutter, alley, parkway, park, place and any other public property.

a) No person shall throw or deposit litter in or upon any public street, park or place within the City, unless such property is designated for such purpose by the City Council except in public receptacles and in such a manner that such litter will be prevented from being carried or deposited by the elements upon any part of any public street, park or place.

b) Where public receptacles are not provided, all such litter shall be carried away from the public street, park or place by the person responsible for its presence and properly disposed of elsewhere.

(Amended by O-1228; O-3531)

No person shall sweep or otherwise move any litter from private property into or onto any public street, park or place.

Persons owning or occupying property shall keep the sidewalk, parkway, gutter and alley in front of or adjacent to the side or rear of their property free of litter.

No person shall maintain, or cause or permit to be maintained any litter on any private property owned, occupied or maintained by such person except as may be designated therefor by the Director of Public Works of the City; provided, however, that this Section shall not apply to the ordinary accumulation of dirt and debris through the ordinary usage of a private residence and its premises or a private business or its premises; and provided further, this Section shall not prohibit the storage of refuse in receptacles authorized therefor by the Director of Public Works.

Persons placing litter in private receptacles shall do so in such a manner as to prevent it from being carried away by the elements.

(Added by O-3128; Amended by O-3267)

a) It shall be unlawful for any person to place, or cause to be placed, a refuse receptacle on public property, including any street, alley or right-of-way, for the private collection of refuse or debris resulting from any project of construction, remodeling, renovation or demolition except in compliance with the following regulations:

1. The landowner or contractor conducting the construction, remodeling, renovation or demolition, or the person owning the refuse receptacle, shall have obtained from the Engineering Department a permit for the placement of such refuse receptacle, which permit application shall clearly show:

A) The name and address of the owner of the property being constructed, remodeled, renovated or demolished;

B) The name and address of the owner of the person, firm or corporation conducting the construction, remodeling, renovation or demolition;

C) The name and address of the person, firm or corporation which owns the refuse receptacle;

D) The date the construction, remodeling, renovation or demolition is to start;

E) The size and configuration of the refuse receptacle;

F) The exact location where the refuse receptacle is to be placed.

2. The permit shall be issued for a period not to exceed sixty (60) days, but may be renewed two (2) times, not to exceed sixty (60) days each time, if the City Engineer shall find:

A) The construction, remodeling, renovation or demolition is not completed, and work has been proceeding diligently; and

B) The continued presence of the refuse receptacle will not cause unusual damage to the street, alley or other public property or have a deleterious effect on adjacent property; and

C) A new permit fee and inspection fee have been paid, and the deposit for cleanup remains in effect.

3. A permit fee and an inspection fee shall be posted with the City Engineer in sums to be fixed by resolution of the City Council from time to time. A deposit or a bond in the amount of Two Hundred Dollars ($200.00) to assure cleanup and repair of the public street upon removal of the said refuse receptacle shall also be posted with the City Engineer.

4. The refuse receptacle shall be safely and securely blocked and shall be placed in such a position as to cause the least amount of damage to public property, interference with traffic, interference with sight distances of drivers and pedestrians; and shall not be placed so as to impede surface water runoff to storm drains, or interfere with access to fire hydrants, traffic-control boxes, manhole covers, and other installations.

5. The refuse receptacle shall be equipped with reflectors, lights or other devices for warning approaching traffic of its location.

b) If at the conclusion of the time period for which a permit, as provided in a) above, has been granted, the refuse receptacle is not removed from the public property, the City may remove or cause to be removed such refuse receptacle and impound it. The cost of such impounding shall be charged to the person, firm or corporation in whose name the permit is issued.