Burn Permits

BURN PERMITS

Open Burn Official: Emily Egan
Phone: 860-435-5170
Email: [email protected]

To request a burning permit, call 860-435-5170 or email [email protected]

On the day of burning, please call 860-435-1252, and leave a message with your name, address, phone number.  

It is imperative that all fires start after 10am and are out by 5pm.

Guidelines for Open Burning on Residential Property

Restrictions, Conditions and Permitting

Prior to burning, the resident/caretaker , or individual seeking to burn on the residential property where he or she resides/caretaker, must have a valid, signed permit from his or her local Open Burning Official. The permit does not relieve the permittee of any legal liability, which may be incurred as a result of the fire.

Open burning is limited to the burning of brush only. Brush is defined as shrubs, vegetation or prunings, the diameter of which is not greater than three inches at the widest point. Leaves and grass are not considered brush. Open burning is not allowed for the purpose of clearing land, or for the disposal of construction debris, household trash, or leaves.

Open Burning Restrictions

Open burning is NOT allowed:

• to clear land prior to construction activities
• as a means to dispose of construction debris, household trash, or leaves.
• if the Air Quality Index (AQI) is forecasted to be 75 or higher anywhere in the state
• if the Forest Fire Danger Index is rated Moderate, High, Very High, or Extreme
• if national or state ambient air quality standards may be exceeded
• if a hazardous health condition might be created
• if there is an advisory from DEEP of any air pollution episode

Additional Applicable Conditions

Before the Burn

All reasonable safety precautions are to be taken including but not limited to:

• clearing of grass and trees from the burning area
• wetting down of the surrounding area
• placement of fire extinguishers and hose lines

After the Burn

• all reasonable measures to assure complete combustion and reduce excessive smoke are to be taken
• at no time during the burn should the fire be left unattended
• the permit must be available on site during the burn
• burning may not create a nuisance to nearby properties
• burning may only be conducted between the hours of 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. on a sunny or partly sunny day with the wind speed less than 10 miles per hour

Completion of the Burn Period

• the burn pile must be completely extinguished by 5 p.m.
• all embers and coals must be extinguished and wetted, so as to prevent smoldering and fugitive ash emissions

Failure to adhere to the conditions of the permit may result in penalties and/or enforcement actions. There may be additional requirements or special conditions applied to your open burning permit by your local Open Burning Official.

Do you have a complaint regarding open burning on residential property?

Smoke, nuisance odors, or other complaints regarding open burning on a residential piece of property are best directed to your Open Burning Official (see contact info above).

Issues or concerns relating to the health effects created or experienced during open burning should be directed to your local Open Burning Official.

In the case of an emergency please call 9-1-1.