Outdoor & residential burning

Before you burn, check if:

• What you want to burn is legal (see below).
• You need a burn permit.
• Burning is allowed in your area (urban growth area).
• There is a burn ban.

What's illegal to burn

Burning garbage or construction debris is illegal. This includes:

• Paper, cardboard, or junk mail
• Construction debris, lumber, or treated wood
• Rubber
• Metal
• Plastics or petroleum products
• Dead animals
• Asphalt
• Anything that emits toxins or bad odors when burned

You can be fined up to $10,000 per day for illegal burning.

Using a burn barrel is illegal

Burn barrels are illegal statewide. A fire in a burn barrel creates toxic smoke that stays low to the ground. That toxic smoke is bad for your health.

Report illegal burning

If you see illegal burning or smoke is getting into your house, report illegal burning.

Burning in an urban growth area

Most burning is illegal in an urban growth area (UGA). An urban growth area is land used for urban development in and around communities. Even if you live outside city limits, you may still live inside an urban growth area. Land outside an urban growth area (like agricultural, rural, and natural land) is protected from urban sprawl. Where you live determines whether you can burn.

Check if you are in an urban growth area

Use the map to check if you're in an urban growth area:

• Option A:  Go to the full map to search for an address.

• Option B:  Click on + sign on the map to zoom in to your area. Click on a yellow shaded area to get more information (pop-up). Yellow shaded areas mark cities and urban growth areas.

Alternatives to burning

• Grasscycle — Leave grass clippings on your lawn to add nutrients back into the soil for a healthy lawn.
• Compost — Break down your yard waste (leaves, grass, prunings) in a bin or a pile to make compost.
• Chip — Chip branches and prunings to use in your garden as free mulch.
• Curbside pickup — Recycle your yard waste with curbside pickup. Check with your local government or waste management company to see if this is available.
• Community or neighborhood cleanup days — Check with your local government to see if your community has a cleanup event to dispose of yard waste.
• Landfills — Recycle your yard waste at the landfill or a community drop-off location. Check with your local government or waste management company to see if this is available.

Contacts for other questions