VILLAGE COUNCIL
VILLAGE OF SPARTA
Kent County, Michigan

Council member Cumings supported by Council member Mais, moved the adoption of the following ordinance

ORDINANCE NO. 25-03 AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND THE GENERAL PROHIBITIONS & PERMISSIBLE OPEN BURNING SECTIONS OF CHAPTER 30, ARTICLE II, OF THE VILLAGE OF SPARTA CODE OF ORDINANCES.

THE VILLAGE OF SPARTA ORDAINS:

Section 1. Amendment. That Chapter 30, Article II, Section 30-33 and Section 30-34 of the Code of Ordinances of the Village of Sparta, Michigan, is amended to read in its entirety as follows:

Sec. 30-33.- General prohibitions.

(a) Except as provided for in this article, all outdoor burning of any material is prohibited. This prohibition extends to all open, on-the-ground burning, firepits, campfires and recreational bonfires that do not meet the criteria for contained burning provided in this article.

(b) No person shall install, use or maintain an outdoor wood-fired boiler within the village limits.

(c) No person shall burn cardboard, leaves, grass clippings, garden waste, or green plant material of any kind within the village limits.

Sec. 30-34. Permissible open burning.

Open burning conducted within either a barbecue cooker, domestic burner or semi- enclosed burning device is permitted provided that:

(1) Fires within a barbecue cooker, domestic burner or semi-enclosed burning device are gas lit or consist of only charcoal, clean untreated lumber, dry wood logs, commercially available wood substitutes or commercially available cooking fuels.

(2) While in use, the barbecue cooker, domestic burner or semi-enclosed burning device is located at least 25 feet from the nearest structure which is not on the same property, including, but not limited to, buildings, fences, woodpiles, sheds, out buildings and utility poles.

(3) While in use, the barbecue cooker, domestic burner or semi-enclosed burning device is located at least 15 feet from the edge of any roadway.

(4) While in use, the barbecue cooker, domestic burner or semi-enclosed burning device is located at least ten feet from any structure which is located on the same property, including, but not limited to, buildings, fences, woodpiles, sheds, out buildings and utility poles.

(5) While in use, the barbecue cooker, domestic burner or semi-enclosed burning device is located at least 1,000 feet from any school while school is in session unless authorized by the village in writing.

(6) While in use, the barbecue cooker, domestic burner or semi-enclosed burning device is located at least five feet from any property line.

(7) Prior to use, the fire chief has approved the type and proposed location of the barbecue cooker, domestic burner or semi-enclosed burning device.

(8) Open burning permitted under this subsection does not generate noxious odors or excessive smoke.

(9) Fires permitted under this subsection are constantly attended and supervised by a competent person of at least 18 years of age until the fire is extinguished and cold. Such person shall have readily available for use such fire extinguishing equipment as may be necessary for the total control of the permitted fire.

(10) The fire chief has not determined that weather or environmental conditions are such that burning would be hazardous to the health, safety, and general welfare of persons or property in the community and posted a notice reflecting this determination at the village fire station.

Section 2. Effective Date. This Ordinance shall take effect twenty (20) days after its adoption or upon its publication in a newspaper of general circulation within the Village, whichever occurs later.

YEAS: Council members: Braybrook, Carlstrom, Cumings, Mais, Peoples, Taylor, Whalen
NAYS: Council members
ABSENT: Council members
ABSTAIN: Council members:

ORDINANCE DECLARED ADOPTED. CERTIFICATION

I certify this is a true and complete copy of an ordinance adopted at a regular meeting of the Village Council of the Village of Sparta, Kent County, Michigan, held on September 15, 2025.

Date: September 15, 2025
Kristen Phelps, Clerk
Published: 9.20.2025
Effective: 10.9.2025