Residential Outdoor Burning
Residential burning is the outdoor burning of leaves, clippings, prunings and other yard and gardening refuse originating on lands immediately adjacent and in close proximity to a human dwelling and burned on such lands by the property owner or his or her designee.
Typical Characteristics
No heavy equipment is involved.
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 $10,000 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. Call your local fire department, fire district, or the Department of Natural Resources for permit information. Consult with the 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. Never leave a fire unattended. Keep a shovel and water source nearby. Burn only during daylight hours.
- 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.
Burning Permit Programs in ORCAA's Jurisdiction
(see also Landclearing Permit Programs)
Fire Agency and/or County |
Pile Size Limitations |
Fee Charged |
Comments |
Thurston County |
Permits for fires up to 10' x 10' for non land clearing |
No fee |
No burning July 15 - October 15. |
Jefferson County FD #1 Chimacum-Port Hadlock-Irondale areas |
Permits for fires up to 10' x 10' for residential burns. |
No fee |
Annual permit, but no burning June, July, Aug, Sept |
Jefferson County FD #3 Port Ludlow area |
Permits for fires up to 4' x 4' for residential burns. |
No fee |
30-day limit. No burning June, July, August, Sept. |
Jefferson County FD# 5 Discovery Bay/Gardiner |
Permits for fires up to 10' x 10' x 5' for residential burns. |
No fee |
No burning in June, July, Aug, Sept |
Jefferson County FD# 6 Cape George |
Residential burn permit. Pile size limit is 10' x 10'. |
No fee |
Annual permit, but no burning June, July, Aug, Sept |
Grays Harbor County FD# 10 Wishkah-E.Hoquiam |
Residential burn permit. Pile size limit is 10' diameter. |
No fee |
Not allowed in No-Burn zone. |
City of Montesano |
Residential Burn Permit To Be Determined |
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The information in the above table was identified as of April 2006.