Residential Burning
Residential burning is the outdoor burning of leaves, clippings, prunings and other yard and gardening refuse originating on the maintained are of residential property (i.e. lands immediately adjacent and in close proximity to a human dwelling) and burned on such lands bu the property owner and/or other responsible person.
See if your city is in a No-Burn Area.
Find your County or Fire District below to find out the specifics of Residential Burning in your area.
Residential Burning Limitations by County
Clallam County
Comments: No burning July, August, and September
Clallam 2 Fire District
Please contact Clallam 2 Fire District for the latest information
Clallam 3 Fire District
Please contact Clallam 2 Fire District for the latest information
City of Port Angeles
Please contact the City of Port Angeles for the latest information
Grays Harbor County
Pile Size Limitations: No Residential burn permit for piles 4' x 4' x 3'
Grays County Fire District #5 (Wishkah-E.Hoquiam)
Pile Size Limitations: Residential burn permit. Pile size limit is 10' diameter
Fee: No Fee
Comments: Not allowed in no-burn zone
Jefferson County Fire District #1(east Jefferson)
Pile Size Limitations: No permit for fires up to 4' x 4' x 3' for residential burning
Fee: No Fee
Comments: No burning July and August.
Jefferson County Fire District #3 (Port Ludlow)
Pile Size Limitations: Permits for fires up to 6' x 6' for residential burns.
Fee: No Fee
Comments: 30-day limit. No burning July and August
Jefferson County Fire District #4 (Brinnon)
Pile Size Limitations: No permit for fires up to 4' x 4' x 3' for residential burning
Fee: No Fee
Comments: No burning July and August
Jefferson County Fire District #5
Pile Size Limitations Permits for fires up to 10' x 10' x 5' for residential burns
Fee: No Fee
Comments: No burning July and August
Mason County
Pile Size Limitations: No Residential burn permit for piles 4' x 4' x 3'
Thurston County
Pile Size Limitations: Permits for fires up to 10' x 10' for non land clearning burns
Fee: No Fee
Comments: No burning July 15 - October 15. Read the Thurston County Guidelines for Residential Burning and Download your Permit.
Typical Characteristics
- No heavy equipment is involved.
- No stumps.
- There is already a residence at the burn site (it is not a vacant lot).
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.
Where burning is allowed, follow these guidelines for proper and safe burning:
- Check permit requirements for your area and obtain a permit, if necessary.
- Consult with ORCAA or local fire agencies for burning conditions prior to igniting any outdoor fire.
- Check the weather. Don’t burn during stagnant or high wind conditions.
- Fires must not contain prohibited materials.
- Fires must be attended at all times and must be extinguished when burning is complete.
- Fires must be at least 50 feet away from any building, wooden fence, trees, or other flammable structure.
- Burn piles must be no larger than four feet in diameter and three feet high.
- Only one pile may be burned at any given time.
- Burn small, hot fires. Don’t let them smolder.
- There must be some means to extinguish the fire onsite and near by.
- Permission from a landowner, or owner’s designated representative, must be obtained before starting an open fire.
Burn Barrels
State law prohibits burning in outdoor containers (such as steel burn barrels) that do not meet certain construction standards consistent with those in the Uniform Fire Code. Containers used for outdoor burning must be brick or concrete.