Burning Questions
Read answers to frequently asked questions below to North Carolina's open burning rules.
General Open Burning
Smoke from fires containing synthetic materials can be a serious health threat to you and your neighbors, particularly for those with respiratory conditions such as asthma or emphysema. Potential human health effects include: lung and eye irritation, headaches, dizziness, asthma attacks, and coughing.
Burning household trash also produces many toxic chemicals and is one of the largest known sources of dioxins in the nation. The remaining ash contains toxic substances too. These toxins leach into the soil to be taken up by plants or may get into streams, lakes, ponds or groundwater.
Yes. Do not burn outdoors on Code Orange, Red or Purple days. DAQ and local air programs issue forecasts for every county in North Carolina. To check the forecast, visit the Air Quality Portal or call 919-707-8400.
Before you burn, you should always KNOW the rules, CHECK the air quality forecast, and GET a burn permit (if applicable) from the ncforestservice.gov.
Dioxins are highly toxic, long-lasting organic compounds that are dangerous even at extremely low levels. They have been linked to several health problems, including cancer and developmental and reproductive disorders.
Dioxins are formed when products containing carbon and chlorine are burned. Even very small amounts of chlorine can produce dioxins. Trying to prevent dioxins from forming by separating out items high in chlorine content is not effective, since low levels of chlorine are present in most household trash.
Burning any man-made material is illegal and can be very harmful to human health.
$25,000 per day, per violation.
Yes. North Carolina General Statute 143.215.6 provides, in addition to the civil penalty mentioned above (a fine up to $25,000 per day of violation), imprisonment up to six months, or both. These sanctions are provided for persons who willfully or negligently violate any environmental standard pursuant to NCGS 143-215. Repeat offenders are subject to fines and imprisonment terms double these amounts.
Any duly sworn law enforcement officer of an agency having jurisdiction in North Carolina
Yes.
Yes, as long as local rules are at least as stringent as 15A NCAC 2D .1900
No. You cannot cause, allow, or permit illegal open burning.
Yes. These fires cannot use synthetic materials, refuse, or salvageable materials for fuel.
No. Unlike the previous categories it is not considered a violation of 15A NCAC 2D .1900, but may be a violation of the North Carolina Forest Service ban itself.
No. If public pickup service is provided, yard waste may not be burned.
Yes. Fee based services offered by private companies are not considered public pick-up.
No. It is always illegal to burn garbage and household trash.
No. Leaves must be burned on the premises where they originate.
No. Smoke from allowable open burning is not considered a nuisance under the Open Burning Rule as amended by the Regulatory Reform Act of 2014.
No, proximity, in itself is not an issue regarding burning of yard waste.
Open burning related to debris from land clearing
It is best to find a location that is at least 250 feet way from the edge of the roadway, if possible. However, it depends on whether the wind direction at the time of the burning is initiated and the wind direction as forecast by the National Weather Service at the time that the burning is initiated are away from any area. Contact your local DAQ regional office to learn more.
No. Any such request must first be obtained in the form of signed waivers from all occupants within 500 feet, and presented to the appropriate air quality regional supervisor having jurisdiction in your area. Only the appropriate air quality regional supervisor can grant the actual permission to burn.
There are seven air quality regions of North Carolina (Asheville, Winston-Salem, Mooresville, Raleigh, Fayetteville, Washington, and Wilmington).
You need a signed waiver from each occupied structure within 500 feet and a clear map showing the location of the burning and each occupied structure.
Yes. The Attorney General's Office has rendered an opinion that tenants renting property assume ownership rights associated with that property during the rental period. Therefore, tenants closer than 500 feet are treated the same as anyone else.
Yes. Structures located outside the property where the burning is occurring must be included in the 500 foot setback.
No. The open burning of tires is illegal, unhealthy, and can result in significant civil penalty assessments.
Kerosene, distillate oil, or diesel fuel.
Smoke from allowable burning is not considered a nuisance under the Open Burning Rule as amended by the Regulatory Reform Act of 2014.
Yes, as long as the burning is conducted on the same site where the materials originate.