Land Clearing Burns

Current Status of Burn Restrictions Can be Found Here

Land clearing burning is the outdoor burning of trees, stumps, shrubbery, or other natural vegetation from land clearing projects.

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.

Land clearing Burning Permit Programs in ORCAA’s Jurisdiction

Agency Max. Pile Size Fee Comments
Clallam County FD 2
(Port Angeles area)
(360) 452-7725		 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 $150 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.
Land clearing burn permit. Pile size limit is 25′ diameter. No fee. 30-day limit. Burning period from October 16 to June 30.
City of Montesano
Fire Department
(360) 249-4851		 To Be Determined TBD TBD
. .

The information in the above table was identified as of January 2009.

ORCAA Permit Application

You can find permit applications HERE. Applications are also available by contacting ORCAA’s office, (360) 586-1044 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