Bedford Township,
Michigan                                       

BURNING REGULATIONS
Bedford Township
Temperance, MI 48182

Revised 4/6/2010

1. All fires must be properly and safely attended at all times.

2. The burning of leaves and brush is only permitted on Fridays between the hours of 2:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. and on Saturdays and Sundays between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m., during the months of April, May, October, and November.  Burning shall not be less than 25 feet from any structure, or 15 feet from any lot line, road right-of-way, or paved surface, whereby the pile size cannot exceed 3 feet in diameter and 2 feet in height.  No Bedford Township “burning permit” is required, however, all burning shall be monitored, violations are subject to the Fire Department and Ordinance Department expenses and fines, and other related administrative fees.

3. The burning of yard waste (grass, brush, leaves, plant materials, etc.) in open fires is prohibited in the months of June, July, August, September, December, January, February, and March, although the Fire Chief or designee may issue a permit for special/unusual circumstances.

4. Campfires shall be no larger than 3 feet in diameter and not exceed 3 feet in height. Campfires must be placed/positioned in a pit, grill, be trenched, enclosed or contained, and shall be attended at all times. Campfires shall not be less than 25 feet from any structure, lot line, road right-of-way, or paved surface.  Campfires are allowed from 3:00 p.m. to 12:00 midnight without a Bedford Township permit. Campfire burnings require clean materials/fuel only, whereby grass clippings or leaves cannot be burned.  Campfires shall be for RECREATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY.

5. Bonfires shall be no larger than 5 feet in diameter and not exceed 5 feet in height. Bonfires can burn from 6:00 p.m. to 12:00 midnight and shall be attended at all times, but are prohibited in Bedford Township platted subdivisions unless approved by the Fire Chief. A BONFIRE PERMIT must be obtained from the Fire Chief or Township Clerk's Department. Bonfires must be trenched or contained in some safe fashion. Bonfires shall be in open areas where sparks and embers would be unlikely to endanger structures.  Bonfire burnings require clean materials/fuel only, whereby grass clippings or leaves cannot be burned.  Bonfires shall be for RECREATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY.  Bonfire permits will be issued to the property owner or a representative (over the age of 18) with written permission from the property owner(s). Bonfires shall not be less than 50 feet from any structure.  Bedford Township Ordinance Enforcement Officers shall inspect all bonfires prior to the permit being issued.

6. Burning in an approved burning barrel with a mesh cover/screen can take place without a permit for domestic purposes (newspaper, papers, cardboard, but no garbage or other solid waste) on Wednesday through Saturday during any month of the year between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m.  Burning barrels shall not be located less than 25 feet from any structure and 15 feet from any paved surface, road right-of-way, or lot line. Limbs, leaves, grass clipping, and brush may be only burned in an approved burning barrel the months of April, May, October, and November (Friday thru Sunday).

7. The Township will enforce any total burning ban instituted by the Governor or Fire Chief for hazardous environmental conditions during dry weather.  It shall be the owner’s responsibility to be aware of any changes in the burning regulations and/or any bans on burning imposed by the Bedford Fire Department.

8. The burning of garbage, wet leaves, hazardous material, or material causing toxic fumes are strictly prohibited at all times within Bedford Township.

Glossary of Terms:

“Road Right-of-Way”    All public roads are located within land, which is referred to as road right-of-way. Within a typical road right-of-way, the following public facilities can be found: the driving surface, roadside shoulders and ditch, public utilities, sidewalks, and traffic signs to name a few. The public road right-of-way is measured from the center of the road, in each direction, with the following rule of thumb: on major roads (called section roads) the road right-of-way is 33 feet and on other roads, the road right-of-way is 30 feet.

“Lot/Property Line(s)”    The surveyed lines (metes and bounds legal description in non-platted areas, or the platted subdivision legal lot description), bounding a lot/parcel, as indicated on the lot/parcel property deed.

“Paved Surface”    Road/driveway surfaces that are composed of durable surface materials laid down on an area to maintain and sustain adequate support for vehicle/foot traffic and parking capabilities.]

“Permit(s)”    Required Bedford Township/Bedford Fire Department “authorization” to legally have a bonfire, camp-fire, to burn outside the designated season, to burn for special/unusual circumstance, etc.

“Burning Month(s)/Day(s)/Time(s)”    Fridays between the hours of 2:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. and on Saturdays and Sundays between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m., during the months of April, May, October, and November.

NOTE: The burning of any fire shall be the responsibility of the property owner. Any person violating any of the terms and provisions of this ordinance/regulation shall be assessed the cost of extinguishing the blaze, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and subject to a fine of not more than $1,000.00 or imprisonment for a period of 90 days, or both, at the discretion of the court. In the event of continuing offenses under the terms of this ordinance/regulation, additional fines and cost may be so charged at the discretion of the Township of Bedford.  Persons that allow any fire to get out of control, or burn past the permitted burning hours, will be fined/charged as permitted in Ordinance 68A-1. In addition, the property owner/approved designee is subject to charges/fees for “any use” of all Fire Department equipment needed to contain or respond to the fire.  Equipment will be charged at an established rate as specified in the Bedford Township General Code and Zoning Ordinances. Burning permit(s) may be revoked or denied for any previous violation(s) of the above-stated “Burning Regulations”.

Fee Schedule

Seven (7) Consecutive Day Burning/Bonfire Permit-----------------Twenty-Five Dollars ($25.00)

Penalties

Any person, firm, corporation, partnership, or other organization or entity, or anyone acting on behalf of said person, firm, corporation, partnership, or other organization or entity, who shall violate or fail to comply with any provision of this Ordinance or the Rules and Regulations adopted pursuant to this Ordinance by resolution, or any of the restrictions set forth on any burning permit issued, shall be responsible for a municipal civil infraction as defined by Michigan law and subject to a civil fine determined in accordance with the following schedule:

1st violation -----------------------------------------------$ 75.00

2nd violation within 1-year period--------------------- $225.00

3rd violation within 1-year period ----------------------$775.00

4th or subsequent violation within 1-year period-----$1,000.00

(BURNING REGULATIONS FINAL  doc 4-7-2010)