Burning Guidelines

YOU can be fined up to $10,000 for illegal open burning in N.C.!

Smoke from open burning can cause serious health problems and pollute the air. That’s why the state regulates open burning. Only leaves, branches or other plant growth can be burned!

IT’S ILLEGAL TO BURN:

GARBAGE, PAPER AND CARDBOARD
TIRES AND OTHER RUBBER PRODUCTS
BUILDING MATERIALS, INCLUDING LUMBER
WIRE, PLASTICS AND SYNTHETIC MATERIALS
ASPHALT SHINGLES AND HEAVY OILS
PAINTS, HOUSEHOLD AND AGRICULTURAL CHEMICALS

Homeowners can burn yard trimmings — excluding logs and stumps where no public pickup is available and it doesn’t cause a public nuisance. Other allowable burning includes campfires, outdoor barbecues and bonfires for festive occasions.

Landowners can open burn vegetation to clear land or rights-of-way provided that:

PREVAILING WINDS ARE AWAY FROM BUILT UP AREAS AND ROADS
FIRES ARE AT LEAST 1,000 FEET AWAY FROM OCCUPIED BUILDINGS
BURNING IS DONE BETWEEN 8AM — 6PM EST

REMEMBER

Burn permits issued by the N.C. Division of Forest Resources, its agents or any local government DO NOT excuse a person from following these state air quality rules.

View and Save Burning Information in PDF

https://www.johnstonnc.gov