Outdoor Burning Permits

Washington State Department of Ecology

BY PROGRAM

Air Quality

FIND INFO ABOUT

Outdoor Burning Permits

The type of burning you are planning and the location of the burn will determine whether or not you need a permit.

Land clearing burning

Land clearing burning requires a permit. Land clearing burning means the burning of trees, stumps, shrubs or other natural vegetation. To be eligible for a land clearing permit, the use of the land must be changing. Common changes in use are non-agricultural to agricultural; vacant to residential development; and vacant to commercial development. Land clearing burning is not allowed in some areas, such as urban growth areas (UGA's). This link is for a Land Clearing Burning Permit.

Agricultural burning

All agricultural burning requires a permit. This is the link for an Agricultural Burning Permit.

Other burning

Some burning doesn't fit into a specific permit category such as land clearing or agricultural. Burning for wildlife habitat enhancement requires a Special Burn Permit. Even some residential burning can require a special permit. This is the link for a Special Burn Permit.

Burn Zone Maps

To find out what zone you are in, click on a link below to view the map.

Eastern Washington Burn Zones

Walla Walla County Burn Zones

Columbia County Burn Zones

Grant County Burn Zones

Whitman County Burn Zones

Fire training

Burning a structure for a fire training exercise might require a fire training permit. If the structure is located within a urban growth area or is within the city limits of a city that has a population of 10,000 people or more, a fire training permit is required. This is the link for a Fire Training Permit.

Asbestos demolition/renovation

Whenever a building is going to be demolished, renovated, or burned for fire training purposes, an asbestos demolition / renovation notification form must be filled out and submitted to the appropriate air authority. If abatement is to occur, forms must be received at least 10 days prior to commencement of removal activities. Here is the Asbestos Demolition/Renovation Notification Form.

Silvicultural (forest) burning

Silvicultural burning, or burning of forest land, is regulated by the Department of Natural Resources this is a link to their web site.

Questions?

Please contact the Department of Ecology or your local clean air agency if you have questions about what permit application you might need, or to find out if burning is allowed in your area.

Contact the Central Regional Office (Chelan, Douglas, Kittitas, Klickitat, and Okanogan counties) at (509) 575-2490.

Contact the Eastern Regional Office (Adams, Asotin, Columbia, Franklin, Garfield, Grant, Lincoln, Stevens, Pend Oreille, Walla Walla, and Whitman counties) at (509) 329-3400.