Town of [Municipality] [Mailing Address for Salvage Yard Implementation Body] Resident Notification

From: [Name], [Municipality] Town Manager

Date: [Enter Date of Mailing]

Re: Changes to the law on salvage yards (formally known as “junk yards)”

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  an area used by an automobile hobbyist to store, organize, restore, or display motor vehicles or parts of such vehicles, provided that the hobbyist’s activities comply with all applicable federal, state, and municipal law;
  
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  an area used for the storage of motor vehicles exempt from registration under chapter 7 of Title 23: wood splitters and pole dinkeys;
  
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  an area owned or used by a dealer registered under 23 V.S.A. § 453 for the storage of motor vehicles; or
  
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  an area used or maintained for the parking or storage of operational commercial motor vehicles, as that term is defined in 23 V.S.A. § 4103(4), that are temporarily out of service and unregistered but are expected to be used in the future by the vehicle operator or owner.
  

Mainly, the law gives municipalities the authority to regulate location of salvage yards. The law also gives the municipalities the right to inspect suspected and identified salvage yards to make sure they are in compliance with the law. As part of location approval, municipalities may impose screening requirements, appropriate location conditions, and appropriate environmental and public health conditions.

1. 
   Contact the Town by writing a letter and asking for an application for a Certificate of Approved Location for a salvage yard (either where the salvage yard is located or where it is proposed to be located).
   

2. 
   Once you receive the form, read it carefully to make sure you have all other permits required under state or federal environmental law before you turn in the application, (you must make copies of those permits and attach them to the application).
   

3. 
   There is an application fee of twenty-five ($25.00) that must be made payable to the municipality when you turn in the form. A municipality may in its discretion assess an applicant with the costs of advertising the application as well as for other reasonable costs related to the hearing and may make the Certificate of Approved Location conditional upon payment of these assessed costs.
   

4. 
   Once the Town gets your application, they will place a notification of Advance Public Notice for a hearing on the application in the local newspaper. A clipping of the newspaper article will be included in the application file.
   

5. 
   A hearing on the application will be held before the approval is granted. There are specific requirements for municipalities to consider when reviewing the application for Certification of Approval for Location of a salvage yard. These required considerations include determining that the location is:
   

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  In compliance with local zoning laws and subdivision regulations (if the municipality has them)
  
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  Not within a protected area (e.g. near drinking water, or wetlands)
  
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  Enclosed behind a fence or screen, and all wrecking and storing is done behind that barrier.
  
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  Not near churches, schools, hospitals, residential areas, public buildings, or other places of public gatherings;
  
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  Does not illicit other concerns relating to public health, safety, the environment, protections from a nuisance condition and aesthetics.
  

If you have any questions, need assistance with filling-out the CAL application, or want to report a suspected illegal salvage yard please contact (local official name, contact info)