ORD 01-002ORDINANCE 2001 - 02
AI~ ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF ELK RIVER
AN ORDINANCE ADDING SECTION 606 TO THE CITY OF ELK RIVER CODE OF
ORDINANCES ENTITLED LAWN FERTILIZER APPLICATION CONTROL
SECTION 1. That the City of Elk River Code of Ordinances shall be
amended by adding Section 606 to provide:
606 - Lawn Fertilizer Application Control
606.00 Purpose. The City has conducted studies and has
reviewed existing data to determine the current and projected
water quality of Lake Orono and its tributary waterways. The
data indicates that lake water quality may be maintained and
improved if the City is able to regulate the amount of phosphorus
and other chemicals from fertilizer entering the lake as a result
of storm water runoff or other causes. The purpose of this
ordinance is to define regulations, which will aid the City in
managing and protecting its water resources, which are enjoyed by
its residents and other users.
606.02 Definitions. For the purpose of this section, certain
terms and words are defined as follows:
"Co,..erciai Applicator" is a person who is engaged in the
business of applying fertilizer for hire.
"Fertilizer" means a substance containing one or more recognized
plant nutrients that is used for its plant nutrient content and
designed for use or claimed to have value in promoting plant
growth. Fertilizer does not include animal and vegetable manures
that are not manipulated, marl, lime, limestone, and other
products exempted by Rule by the Minnesota Commissioner of
Agriculture.
"Nonco...ercial Applicator" is a person who applies fertilizer
during the course of employment, but who is not a commercial lawn
Fertilizer applicator.
"Pesticide" means a substance or mixture of substances intended
to prevent, destroy, repel, or mitigate a pest, and a substance
or mixture of substances intended for use as a plant regulator,
defoliant or desiccant.
606.04 Regulations for Commercial Lawn Fertilizer A~licators.
1. License Required. No person, firm, corporation or
franchise shall engage in the business of commercial lawn
fertilizer applicator within the City unless a license has
been obtained from the Building and Zoning Administrator or
a designee as provided herein.
2. License Application Procedure. Applicants for a
commercial lawn fertilizer applicator license shall be
submitted to the Building and Zoning Administrator or a
designee. The application shall consist of the following:
A. Application Form. Applications forms shall be
provided by the City and shall include the following
instructions:
i. Name, address and telephone number of
applicant and any Individuals authorized to
represent the applicant.
ii. Description of lawn fertilizer formula
proposed to be applied on lawns within the City.
iii. A time schedule for application of lawn
fertilizer and identification of weather
conditions acceptable for lawn fertilizer
application.
B. Product Material Safety Data Sheet. A copy of
Material Safety Data Sheet, including product chemical
analysis of the intended lawn fertilizer, shall be
submitted to the City along with the initial
application for a license, and, thereafter, at least
seven days before fertilizer composition changes are
implemented.
C. Minnesota State Licenses. A copy of all licenses
required of the applicant by the State of Minnesota
regarding the application of pesticides and
fertilizers.
D. License Fee. The license fee amount shall be set
by the resolution of the City Council from time to
time. The license shall expire on the 31st day of
December. The license fee shall not be prorated.
3. Conditions of License. Commercial lawn fertilizer
applicator licenses shall be issued subject' to the
following conditions which shall be specified on the
license form:
A. Random Sampling. Commercial lawn fertilizer
applicators shall permit the City to sample any
commercial lawn fertilizer applications to be applied
within the City at any time after issuance of the
initial license.
B. Possession of License. The commercial lawn
fertilizer license, or a copy thereof shall be in the
possession of any party employed by the commercial
lawn fertilizer applicator when making lawn fertilizer
applications within the City.
C. Possession of Product Material Safety Data Sheet.
A copy of product Material Data Safety Sheet of the
lawn fertilizer used shall be in the possession of any
party employed by the commercial lawn fertilizer
applicator when making lawn fertilizer applications
within the City.
D. State Regulations. Licensee shall comply with the
provisions of the Minnesota Fertilizer and Soil
Conditioner Law as contained in Minnesota Statutes
Sections 17.711 through and including 17.729 and
amendments thereto. The licensee shall also comply
with the provisions of the Pesticide Control as
contained in the Minnesota Statutes Chapter 18B.
606.06 General Regulations.
1. Time of Application. Neither commercial applicators
nor noncommercial applicators may apply lawn fertilizer
when the ground is frozen or when conditions exist which
will promote or create runoffs.
2. Sample Analysis Cost. The cost of analyzing fertilizer
samples taken from commercial applicators shall be paid by
the commercial applicators if the sample analysis indicates
that phosphorus content exceeds the levels authorized
herein.
3. Fertilizer Content. No person, firm, corporation,
franchise, or commercial or noncommercial applicator,
including homeowners or renters, shall apply any lawn
fertilizer, liquid or granular, within the City of Elk
River, which contains any amount of phosphorus, such as
phosphate, except:
A. the naturally occurring phosphorous in
unadulterated natural or organic fertilizing products
such as yard waste compost;
B. or as otherwise provided in Section 606.06 (7).
4. Impervious Surfaces and Drainage Ways. No person shall
apply fertilizer to impervious surfaces, areas within
drainage ditches, or waterways.
5. Buffer Zone. Fertilizers and pesticides shall not be
applied:
A. to any established natural buffer zones;
B. below the Ordinary High Water lines as
established by the Minnesota Department of Natural
Resources; or
C. within ten (10) feet of any wetland or water
resource.
6. Warnin~ Signs for Pesticide Application. Ail
commercial or noncommercial lawn fertilizer applicators who
apply pesticides to turf areas must post or affix warning
signs on the property where the pesticides are applied.
The warning signs shall comply with the following criteria
and contain the following information:
A. The warning signs must project at least eighteen
(18) inches above the top of the grass line. The
warning signs must be of a material that is rain
resistant for at least a forty-eight (48) hour period
and must remain in place up to forty-eight (48) hours
from the time of initial application.
B. The following information must be printed on the
warning signs in contrasting colors and capitalized
letters measuring at least one-half inch (1/2"), or in
another format approved by the Minnesota Commissioner
of Agriculture. The signs must provide the following
information:
i. The name of the business, entity, or person
applying the pesticide; and
ii. The following language: "This area
chemically treated. Keep children and pets off
until (date of safe entry)" or a universally
accepted symbol and text approved by the
Minnesota Commissioner of Agriculture as
recognized as having the same meaning or intent
as specified in this subparagraph. The warning
signs may include the name of the pesticide used.
C. The warning sign must be posted on a lawn or yard
between two (2) feet and five (5) feet from the
sidewalk or street. For parks, golf courses, athletic
fields, playgrounds, or other similar recreational
property, the warning signs must be posted immediately
adjacent to areas within the property where pesticides
have been applied and at or near the entrances to the
property.
7. Exemption to Phosphorous Requirement. The
prohibition against the use of fertilizer containing any
quantity of phosphorus under section 606.06 (3) shall not
apply to:
A. newly established or developed turf and lawn
areas during first growing season; or
B. turf and lawn areas which soil tests confirm are
below phosphorous levels established by the University
of Minnesota Extension Services. The lawn fertilizer
application shall not contain an amount of phosphorous
exceeding the amount of Phosphorous and the
appropriate application rate recommended in the soil
test evaluation.
Phosphorus applied as lawn fertilizer pursuant to the
aforementioned exemptions shall be watered into the
soil where it is immobilized and generally protected
from loss by runoff.
Any person, firm corporation, fran'chise or commercial
or noncommercial applicator, including a homeowner or
renter shall notify the city at least 24 hours prior
to applying lawn fertilizer containing phosphorus of
the reason for using fertilizer containing phosphorus
and the amount of phosphorus contained in the lawn
fertilizer to be applied.
606.08 Penalty. Any person violating this Chapter shall be
guilty of a petty misdemeanor. The City may revoke a commercial
applicator's license for repeat violations of this Chapter.
SECTION 2. That this Section shall take effect upon its adoption
and publication as provided by law.
Passed and Adopted by the Elk River City Council this /~/~
day of '//~-~, 2001.
ATTEST:
Sandra A. Peine, City Clerk
'ORDINAN
Al'i~Q~IN. ~
CITYiOF'
AN'lJ)llDlN
!ilECTION .606rJ.'10THE'
'OF ELKRIVEJ;tCODE.:
OllDlNAl'\(CES:ENT'I'l'L1!lP,r
'l.AWN,~TILIZ'IllR ::,
APPLICATION 'CONl?lOL '
'SECTION 1.'l'hat.th~fc::i~yofE~
River 'coaeof.:Ol'dlliflU~~s~:liaJl.!.
am.llnaed'QY~d,ciin is .
prQ~de: " /)
606 "Lawn F(l.
',~,: "":0
~.{t .'16.'OO"p."" ',',',',".',,"
, c~:U:cte'(f.\? , .
r~:wewedl:licistiJ;igd,
Ufine,the(lUrrent.
~a,~erqua.lttyofLake
tributij,ry<wate
ijIdlcates ,that'!
'rimy hem!il,ntam:~,4
the !Cityisablllitl'!re
aIJlqUll'tof phol:lph(liJ'\l!l,!Pl
ch~iili.cals ,', fr(lm ,fertili2:er:
theliilreasa result ,(if , '
nllloffor other caU$e!;1.'.Vh.ll,jJ).. ',,~ll
oft1ds' 'ordinancei!\toidefiP~ fl'egll.!
lations, which will aid the City in
managing'and'prote~ting'its wa~
resources, which are enjoyed by Its
residents and other users. ,
60'6.0'2 Definitions. For the pur-
pose of this section, cert:"~rms,
and words aredefinlld~~, ::"
"Commercial Applicato er"
son who is engaged in,thebusin~s
of applying' fertilizer'fol"'ipre:'. ",~, "
, " ':a::substance
..,.
F-
and vegetable man
not manipulated, mar,' ", e,
stone and otherprodtictsex "t-
ed by Rule by .the' Minnell,ota
, Commissioner of Agrieulture. '
"Noncommercial A.ppli.cator" isa
per!lon who app4es, fllJiilizer dur-'
ing'.the ,course of emplOYD.1ent,;but
who. is not, acomm,er(lralJawn
Fertilizer applicator.', i,"
"Pesticide" means a substance or
nilidure of substances intended ,to
prevent,destrqy, 'repel, ormi~igate
a pest, and a substance or IIiiJcl;ur-e
of substancesintended,for use' as a
plant regulator, ,defoliantordesic"
cant. , ' ".
60'6.0'4 . Regulations for
Commercial, L_[iwiL..>.:Fl:l~iliz,e:r;
A~pli~li0rs: ~eqJrred.;,(:, ,',N, ,'0
P~, :C;PlJlO!~HO~,o:r;'fr~:
chrllngli,.gllm,"~~:1lus~~s;s:",
of commercial lawn fertili~er'liPpli-.
cator within theCity'unl,ess[i
license :!rasbee'!l obtail:led.frOpl th~
BuildingflIid Zoping~dpinistr;'l'l~l: ,
oradesi~eeas pl'9.Vl4ed
. 2. LicenS~,!Applic~tio~ '
ApplicaI!ts,'"for~,!lo~~I'
fertilizeiapplicatoi;J.i~IlS ",
submitted to the.,.~~jl." g'aIld
Zoning 'Admini~tra~or"'t or a
designee. Theapplll?l':ltlOn shall con-
sist of the folloWing:
A. Appli"ation,,' For~-
Applications forms !lhall. be prOVid-
ed by the City R'!ld shall mclude the
toll owing instructions: ,
1. Name, addtess and telephone
number, of applicant, and any
Individualfl ap.thorized to repre-
sent the applicant., '
ii. Description pf l~wn fertilizer
formulapfoposed to,b~applie~!ln
lawns within the City. :
iii. A tiIne achedule for applica"
tion !If l~wn fertilizer and identifi-
'cation of, weather conditions
acceptable for lawn fertilizer appli-
" ,cation. ' ,
, B. Product material Safety Data
. S:!rl'le~,A !lOPy of Material' .l3afetr
Da.taShl'let; jncludinglH'!ldp-ct,
~h~nni!\~l"Q.n1!Jysis, of the !nt~l:ld~d '.
, 'lawn f~i1iiH?;Ilr;, shall be sp.b~~tpd
,tllJA'@',Clitr"'lllqng withthll Iruti.lil
llP~lieatil;ln'for a license, and,
thereaf1;er......t least seven ~IfYs
before ,:,.,' fertilizer COmposItIOn
changes' a~~implemented.
Q. Minnesl;ltli State Licenses. A
l:Opy of alllicense$ requil'ed of the
applic~\ by the~t~tll o.fMinnesot~
regarding the appbcatl(lu of pestl~
ciqe~ lird, jlil<1ef!l,
'.'0, ;J'.A911,
"'a.., '
~'AA~~,
'A",;: "'~andQ
Commercial lawn plea"
tora shall permit tha City to SamPle
aillY l;omlllercial' l~wn' fertilizer
applications tq be applied within
tlIa Qity at MY, tim~ ~ft~rislluance
!lfjhl!jp)ti~rliC!lJIs~, ,i ' "
STATE OF MINNESOTA
which is attached was cut from the columns of said
newspaper, and was printed and published once .each
k fi \ successive weeks; it was first publIshed
wee ,or - +1\ m ~_ '
on Wednesday, the Q 5- day of a..V-Ch) ,
20 0 \ ,and was thereafter printed and published every
Wednesday to and including Wednesc\~y, the
d f 20 . and printed below
ayo . ,
is a copy of the lower case alphabet from A to Z, both
inclusive, which is hereby acknowledged as being the size
and kind of type used in the composition and publication
of the notice.
BY:
TITLE:
day of
l!l
n "'TE INFOn...." 'TION / ~:;;~ ~~iISCHJMJNSk' f
nn. nlV.I.n. . YCornrn. r::~_. C-MINNES -,."
-.pIres J Q,A
'fi d 'd b all. 31 2
(I) Lowest classl Ie rate pal y c:: qu ro ' 005 i
commercial users for comparable space $~ "
(2) Maximum rate allowed by law for
the above matter
(3) Rate actually charged for the
above matter
,ttJ;!QI:l!!f!I:l!!J(!q,'9f~~caJl~~,/!'Ae 'j
()pmm~"i!(l J~wRfertmrll!l1' b,l;!l~ll!l!i
Pr. !l~OPY ihllfllpf!l:!raHJle,Ml the
POS!leSlllqn of au,y, .plP't:y,!lmp~!l:Ylld.
by the' ()omme1'9f1rl l~~ feftll1~~r'
applicatQr when)IlaJ.?n~Jawn ~er- ,
tili;?:ell app~iC!ltionllw~tl1in the GJ~. .
C; PpllallslliqJlof PrqdU,llt M.a~en!ll '
s!lfety P!l~a' She!lt, A... co,P:yofpfod,.
'~ct. M~teri~ nat!! s'!lf!lty Sheet.?f
tAe lawn fertili~!lr1.lsed!l:!r!ln'be m
the .poss~ssipn pfany 'party
eIl1ployed by the cOIUIUllrlllal l!lWn
fertilizer applicat9.l' wMt\.. malQng
lawn fertm~!lr aIUlH!;ilt,lqnllwitmn .
tlIe CitY" . ..'. ~ ...... ...., ; !
; P, ' St~tll &lW!~tioIl~, ,~i~ensel! .:
, /l:!r""u cQw,plr with ~h:ll: Jl1'!ly!f1lOns ~f:
, thfl,Miooesota'Fllrt*zer ~d. S~~l:
CondjtioIleI'LaWf~C9ntalne? In ,
Minnesota '. · StAt1.ltell.,' SectIons I
17;7H throu,g4 i.mll' including
17,729 and ~enllm!llJ,tll't:!rereto.,
Th.e licenliee llA'411 !l11l!lllqWplYWith
the proyi/lioIls' Of Fhl! ,Pest.icide
CQJJ.trol !is. efl,!!,t!l.infld' . in t:!re
M.innasota, 13tatu,tell. Qh!lpter l~a. .
, 6D6,Q6 General 'Regtll!ltiflJlS.
1 .. TiIl1eof Applicati~n. Neither
commercial app1jcatorllnOr '.n9n-
CPmInllJ.'cial' appli'c!ltorSm!l;y'app~y'
lawn fartili~er when the ~QnnA, J!l
froZaQ.qr when.' conditi!lnll 'exist
'wht!lhi.,wHlpfoJ,llQttl9f iCff;l!;lte
:nID9ff,l.!',:;"., ,,'.' ....... '., " ;
,~,'g; S!lmP.leAA~Y!lill ~91lt 'Thtl'cqst. i
.pf \ ~.Q.!ll'yzif\~:,.fllrtH*~~r, "Il~~p.le!l' :
. 'ta~ll.Q.frOm 1.l91lUJ,lerCJ.Al liPplIcll,t!lrs ,
IlhllJi bep!lidbyt:!recpnunercial :
. a}lplicat.!'!fll if the .1la,!U,ple Malysis '
iIldictj;elltbat phqsphQl'\1!lcontent :
. e~Ctle~ll:t:!r~I!lY~l!l a1.lt:!roril<1ed :!rere- :
iri, '" , , ,
3. Fertilizer Content, No person,
firm, corporati(jn, franchise, or. com-
mercial or. noncommerl;ial applica-
tor, including homt;lowners or
renters, shall apply any lawn fertil.:
i~er, liquid or grR'!lular,. within the
City of Elk River, which contains
any amount of phosphorus, such as
.phOllPl1a,te, llJlicept: ..,
A. f:!r~ natu,rally opcllITing p:!ros-
$~
$ 31iS,~)
appl,y' efl;t'~i:lf ~ iInll~~Qq",'ll.W-
fa~e~ij.lll'eA,e"mthjp d, ....-
llll,.Ql' wllt~rWarSJ ,/',., '.'
....Q,'~uff~r.1!Qn~.',FllrtIlJl<1~fll ,~~
pesticideashall not ~e \,-ppbed; .
A. .to any .llfltab'lshed' natural
bp-ffllJ,' ?;1)IleS' ".,' .
B,~. !:le19w.'thf; Or:din~ry,~igh
Wat~J,' liri!lllas eatalllls4ed,by:,t:!re
Minnl;illqti!.. Dep~rtment !If'N a,tural
ResoWCe"';!lr ..'" 'i "
C.. witmn't,flU(l()) fe!l~Qf any
wetland Or wa~llr l'e!lOUfce, ' ,
,6, War1iirigSi~8 f!lr Pesticide
Application. All comlD:e;'-"cial or~on-
commerciallawn fertlb?;er apphca-
tors who apply' pesticidefl ,to' turf
areas inust' post' ol'"a,ffix warning
signs on t:!re property,. whera . ~:!re
pesticides are applied, Th.e ,warmng
si~s shall comply with the follow-
"iIlg criteria and conti'lin the follow"
~ng inform~tio~:.. .'
, A,', The warmng, Sl~S must pro-.'
ject at leasteighteen(18~inches
abovll ~e topqfthe grass hne. Th.e
wa,rm~~!!ilmllInust be of a maten-
~l t.hat Is r!U.'!lrl;llliatant f!lr at ~eaflt
a . (48) hour peril)d.' and
m '. ,: in pla,pe p.p to
fp', hourfl tr!'!m t:!re time
of ini , , I!Ppilla,tio'!l. . ' . '
.if. ,,''rhe fglll'1N\'in-g;"'inf!lPpll!.tibn ~
mp.lltbe;Pl'Wte~ t)1\t.pe Wa,~l),g r
si~ain pon.tr~tWgcolqrs ~nd cap"
italizlld lettersJ.Qea!lulj.nga,t least
one';hf.ll.f inch (112"), orin another
format. approved by the Minn.:esota
Commissiont\r of }.gri!lultu,re. The
signs must, providt\ t:!re following
information: '.
i: 'Th.e nf'JIle gftl}!lbulliness,. e~ti-
ty, or personapplyrngthe peatI<;ldei
and '," ".,' """ "". '
ii. The following laIlgtlage: "This
. ar'~a c:!remically treated. Keep chil~'
dren and pets bffuntil (data of safe
. entry)" . (jr Ii lUliversallf' accepted
symbol' imd}e~.apPl'llve4 by,. the
Minnesota .COIn.Willsionerqf
AgrlcultW:"!l. !Ill . rllcogni~ed. as :!rav-
il),g tha sl\m . . . g (lrU'!.tent as
. apA. The
" the
'th:'
.., .. , siori
Services; The lawn fertilizer appli-
cation shalLnot conta,inan amop.nt
of phosphorus' e)i;ceeding " the
amount qLph(lIlPh9r1.l~. ,!mll the
,. a..pprQPriatll~ppliq!ltiRti;;'l'~t/;l.:re(l-
; o~endell;,i?t~~"~lliJ:*~",t'ev~hl~",
t)~hOS~i) '",,; '('.l.';<'t; '" .'....
" ..' ,p !'WlllpPJed.IlIla,Wn ferr'
tilil<1er '.P1lJ'1l1.la.nt' tll the~QJ.'eInen.~
tioned e:/(!lropti!lnUb~ll h!lWatel'lld
into the 1l0ilWl1erfil it ill '~mIn!lbi-
li~ed i IUld g~nefa11.Y J?rO~cted'from .
. loss by :runoff: ".; ,.",;,
MY. Jl~r(:lIlJ!i!: #iJlm<~or~~rl'\tiQP,
. frM!lltise!lr;IlOlll,llltlr\l~li!Qr I1,on-
cOJD,1hercj~1!.a,pplica~9r,..'iP:Gly,pjpg.:.~.
h(lme!l~er or.,r~nter :~,q,aU;, notifY .
t'Q,ellity. atJ\ilIi\~t,r'g4.'hgmr$. P:Oo!, to
...... /!.PIlJyjq~.'l/!.Wp.fe:!'til\~filJ.: '!J!'lntaiwn;g
'pn.QllPAmml!!lf tliljrl,l~ll(ln tllr, Y~illg
fertm~!ilJ.' cllp.tli\iIl,!ng' VhQ",pholll,1!l
I'Inq t,hEl!WloIDl,t, ofphQ!!p:!r!lVUIl Q91l'.
t!lined in. the. Jawn.ffilrtiUlIillf. .tQbe
app!ie!l. ..,". .' .'
6D6.0f!Penalty.:AAY personvio~,
lating tlp.!I CMpter llhalI Pll guilty
of /!.. Pliltty. mifldeme/!.nor;The City , We,y rf;lV(l~ea, QOInlll,erci~f app!ica-
: tor's 1icenllef!lJ.' repll!lJ viol&tio.Qs Ilf
. thia Chapter;' , ' ..".. . I
~:JJ;Q"rJQN .'flj,a,t, t,bill: I!l\llltion
llh~lt'p;pifti, j.t/! lidQpti9n
llndpp;v l!lw,
e'Elk,
dar i1f
MlW~,2QDl;".. .... .',
: Stellha~I,lA~KUn~jrig;;M'"i(n'
A'l'TEST: <';;",<
Sanllra:i\, r~ip!l, eft .l;;lf.';;,' ;::-:
,. . ~Mr28 n~:=:' "