Lewis and Clark County commissioners on Thursday approved an updated version of the county's community decay ordinance, a 20-year-old law governing junk vehicles, garbage and other debris.

The latest version was an attempt to streamline the ordinance by adding a list of defined violations and clarifying the enforcement section, Deputy County Attorney Jeff Sealey said.

"This just gives us a little more teeth than we've had," Commissioner Ed Tinsley said.

The ordinance doesn't affect working agricultural operations or shooting ranges.

Violations include the accumulation of trash, wrecked or ruined vehicles or mobile homes, building materials and other junk.

The ordinance is complaint-driven, and violators will have 40 days to comply with recommendations from the City-County Health Department.

Appeals may be made through the county commission or the state District Court.

The new ordinance will be posted online at www.co.lewis-clark.mt.us.