The council’s proposal to pass such an ordinance has provoked mixed reaction from residents since it was first discussed in December.

Several drafts of the ordinance were debated at public hearings in January and February.

The ordinance approved Monday night “seeks to regulate the location, use, construction and operation of outdoor furnaces” so that the units don’t “compromise the health, safety and welfare” of residents.

While the council has recognized that policing what types of materials residents burn in the units will be difficult, the ordinance specifies what types of fuels are allowed and what types of fuels are prohibited. Prohibited fuels include garbage, yard waste, construction debris, lighter fluids and coal, among others.

The last draft the council presented to the public limited the use of OHHs to a specified heating season beginning Sept. 1 and continuing through May 30. Because a number of OHH owners indicated they use the units to heat their water year-round, the heating season restriction was eliminated from the ordinance approved Monday night night.

The ordinance also states that all new OHHs installed from this point forward must comply with the EPA Phase II Emission standard, given to cleaner burning units that produce lower levels of particulate matter.

According to the ordinance, smoke stacks must be installed in accordance with the manufacturer’s specifications, rather than an originally proposed height of 18 feet.

New units must also be set back at least 100 feet from any lot line. Special use permits will now be required to install OHHs on lots smaller than two acres or to install them on any part of the property other than the back yard.

The ordiance also outlines a penalty system for violators, which includes a series of warnings, followed by monetary penalties of $100 and $300 for subsequent offenses.