Land Clearing Burns
In support of Washington state Department of Natural Resources Fire Danger Burn Ban, ORCAA will not issue land clearing burn permits. A Land Clearing Burn is the outdoor burning of trees, stumps, shrubbery, or other natural vegetation from land clearing projects.
No Land Clearing Permits Issued between July 1, 2011 and September 30, 2011 in ALL counties
Typical Characteristics
- A vacant lot that is being cleared (for a home, barn, pasture, lawn, etc).
- If a portion of a parcel is being cleared in order to be used for another purpose, which creates a debris pile larger than 4 feet in diameter.
- If there are 1 or more stumps to be burned.
- Heavy equipment is involved.
Permitting Agencies
ORCAA’s permit program will cover most areas within ORCAA’s six-county region. Mason County and several fire districts in the region have instituted programs for their respective areas. In these areas land clearing permits will be administered by these agencies (see table below). If you live within ORCAA’s jurisdiction, but outside any of the areas listed, you must obtain your land clearing burning permit from ORCAA.
Download the ORCAA Land Clearing Burn Permit Application
Applications are also available by contacting ORCAA’s office, (360) 539-7610 or (800) 422-5623.
The fee is $100 per acre cleared.
What are the Permit Conditions?
The permits will be, where applicable, for land clearing burning piles greater than 4′x4′x3′ but not exceeding 20 feet in diameter. The permits will be valid for 30 days. ORCAA’s permit will focus on air quality and tips on fire safety. Please see the application form for more details.
Guidelines and Laws
Where burning is allowed, only natural vegetation (leaves, brush, etc.) may be burned.
State law prohibits the burning of the following materials, including, but not limited to, paper or newspaper (except what is necessary to start a fire), cardboard, household garbage, treated, painted or stained wood, plywood, construction debris, paints, tires and other rubber products, plastics, asphalt and building materials, chemicals, petroleum products, metal, and dead animals.
Smoke, odor, or ash which goes beyond your property and impacts a neighbor is illegal. Violations of outdoor burning laws may result in fines up to $14,915 per violation.
Other Permitting Information
ORCAA will notify DNR regional offices and fire departments and/or fire districts of land clearing burning permits which are issued for their respective jurisdictions.
For more outdoor burning information, contact these organizations:
Department of Ecology
PO Box 47600
Olympia WA 98504-7600
360-407-6889
Department of Natural Resources
1-800-527-3305
Land Clearing Burning Permit Programs in ORCAA's Jurisdiction
| Agency | Max. Pile Size | Fee | Comments |
| Clallam County FD 2 (Port Angeles area) (360) 417-4790 |
20′x20′x15′ | $75, non refundable | 30-day permit limit. |
| Clallam County FD 3 (Sequim area) (360) 683-4242 |
20′ diameter x 15′ high | $100, non refundable | 30-day permit limit. |
| Mason County Fire Marshall’s Office: (360) 427-9670 |
No larger than 20′ in diameter for land clearing purposes | $160.50 | No more than 1 fire per acre; no more than 3 per parcel. 30-day permit limit. |
| Pacific County FD #1 (Ocean Park & north part of Long Beach Peninsula) (360) 665-4451 |
Up to 20′x20′x15′ | $75 | Fire Department issues all permits for Ocean Park. 60-day permit limit. |
| Grays Harbor County Ocean Shores Fire Dept. (360) 289-3611 |
No larger than 20′ diameter | No fee | 7-day permit limit. Can be renewed. Strictly for inside city limits. |
| Grays Harbor County City of Elma (360) 482-4482 |
Land clearing burn permit. Pile size limit is 10′ x10′ | No fee. | Permits only for inside Elma city limits. |
| Grays Harbor County FD# 10 (Wishkah-E.Hoquiam) (360) 533-5773 |
Land clearing burn permit. Pile size limit is 15′ diameter. | No fee. | 7-day limit. Burning period from October 15 to July 1. |
| City of Montesano Fire Department (360) 249-4851 |
see City of Montesano Fire Department for permit |