Local cities and counties permit fires within their jurisdictions: Outdoor burning is permanently banned in all cities, towns, and urban growth areas (UGAs — call your local planning department for UGA boundaries).
Recreational Fires using charcoal or firewood for cooking or pleasure that are larger than 3 feet in diameter and 2 feet high require a permit. Your fire official or city may have additional restrictions.
Residential Fires: All residential fires consisting of yard and garden debris that are generated on site require a permit. Written permits are required for fires over 4 feet in diameter. Verbal permits are required for fires under 4 feet in diameter.
Land Clearing Fires: All fires consisting of trees, stumps, shrubbery, or other natural vegetation generated on site require a permit.
Types of Burn Bans
Burn ban due to impaired air quality
The Northwest Clean Air Agency can call this type of burn ban when air pollutants are measured at unhealthy levels, or are rising and expected to reach unhealthy levels. Impaired air quality burn bans affect wood heating and outdoor burning. There are two stages of impaired air quality burn bans:
- Stage I Burn Ban: No outdoor burning or burning in any uncertified wood stove or fireplace.*
- Stage II Burn Ban: No outdoor burning or burning in any wood stove, fireplace or pellet stove.*
*Exemptions: Households with no other source of adequate heat can request an exemption from NWCAA to burn during a burn ban.
Burn bans due to dry weather conditions (Fire Safety Burn Bans)
This is a temporary ban on outdoor burning called by Fire Officials during periods of high fire danger. Call 360-428-1617 ext. 4 for current status.
Permanent outdoor burn bans
These prohibit land-clearing and residential burning of yard clippings and other vegetative debris in specific cities and their urban growth areas.
Permanent Burn Bans (cities and urban growth areas): Coupeville, Freeland, Langley, and Oak Harbor
Verbal permits: 360-240-5526
Written permits 360-679-7350
Permanent Burn Bans (cities and urban growth areas): Anacortes, Bayview, Burlington, Concrete, Hamilton, La Conner, Lyman, March Point, Mount Vernon, and Sedro-Woolley
Verbal permits: 360-416-1840
Written permits: 360-419-7789
Permanent Burn Bans (cities and urban growth areas): Friday Harbor, Eastsound, Lopez Village
Website
360-378-3473
Online Permit Center
Permanent Burn Bans (cities and urban growth areas): Bellingham, Birch Bay, Blaine, Cherry Point, Columbia Valley (Paradise Valley/Peaceful Valley developments), Everson, Ferndale, Lynden, Nooksack, and Sumas
Verbal permits: 360-778-5903
Written permits: 360-778-5903
Silvicultural Fires: Fires on forested lands that will be replanted and remain forested. To obtain a written permit contact the Washington State Department of Natural Resources at 360-856-3500.
The following types of fires are allowed in all areas under special circumstances with approval from the Northwest Clean Air Agency:
- Agricultural burning
- Storm and flood debris
- Fire training (incl. extinguisher) / Annual fire training
- Structure live fire training (single event)
- Rare and endangered plant regeneration fires
- Ceremonial fires (use fire extinguisher training application)
- Weed abatement fire permits:
- Island County:
- Whidbey Island: 360-679-7350
- Camano Island: 360-387-3443
- Skagit County
- Fire Marshal burn permit line: 360-416-1840
- DNR Fires: 360-854-2878
- Whatcom County
- Fire Marshal burn permit line: 360-778-5903
- San Juan County
- Fire Marshal: 360-378-3473
- Island County:
- Fee schedule
Outdoor Burning FAQ
If you are planning on burning outdoors, it is important to understand what you can and can’t do.
Alternatives to Burning
Instead of burning unwanted materials in an illegal fire, residents can contact waste haulers and other service providers to remove harmful waste. These organizations handle a variety of materials, from yard waste to garbage to recycling. For information about alternatives to outdoor burning or to find service providers in your area, review the information to the right.
In addition, you can also use Washington’s 1800Recycle online system to find convenient recycling opportunities near you.
Compliance
We partner with the counties in our jurisdiction to enforce outdoor burning laws, rules and regulations through the Fire Warden program.
Most outdoor burning violations outside city limits are handled by the county fire wardens, but the fire wardens can refer enforcement to the Northwest Clean Air Agency. Within city limits, the Northwest Clean Air Agency has the lead.
If you file a complaint about outdoor burning, the offending party will likely receive a letter and education materials.
Depending on the location of the fire, the local fire warden or the Northwest Clean Air Agency may investigate and may follow up with enforcement if necessary. If the fire poses a safety risk, the local fire department will respond.
If your air quality is affected at home or work by outdoor burning, you can submit a complaint. (See below.) Because of the number of complaints we receive, we focus our responses on incidents that affect multiple people and properties. Our main objective is compliance with air quality regulations. We frequently use educational efforts to achieve this goal.
