DON'T GET BURNED!

You can be fined up to $10,000 for ILLEGAL OPEN BURNING in North Carolina.

There are a lot of misunderstandings about open-air burning in North Carolina. 

Some people think it's OK to burn trash in barrels because they've always done it that
way. It's not.

Others think it's always OK to burn leaves and branches in the fall. But that's not so in
cities and counties that pick up yard waste.

The NC Division of Air Quality (DAQ) enforces the state open burning rules and many
local governments have additional restrictions on outdoor fires.  Violating these rules
can be expensive--with fines as high as $10,000.00 for serious cases or repeat violations. 
Substantial fines are assessed, even for minor or first-time violations.

IT'S THE LAW
The basic message of the state open-burning rule is simple: Only leaves, branches, and
other plant growth can be burned - nothing else. That means no trash, lumber, tires or
old newspapers.  If local pickup is available, you can't burn even leaves and branches. 
Do not burn:
* Garbage, paper and cardboard
* Tires and other rubber products
* Building materials, including lumber and wood scraps
* Wire, plastics and synthetic materials
* Asphalt shingles
* Paints, household and agricultural chemicals and heavy oils

What's allowed under the law? Homeowners can burn yard trimmings - excluding
logs and stumps over 6 inches in diameter - if it's allowed under local ordinances,
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 also can 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 1000 feet away from occupied buildings
* Burning is done between 8am and 6pm

Other occasions where open burning is allowed (with DAQ approval)
include fires for: training fire-fighting personnel; managing forest lands or wildlife habitats;
controlling agricultural diseases and pests; and disposing materials generated by
hurricanes, tornadoes and other natural disasters.
You may need a permit from the NC Division of Forest Resources or local governments
before you burn, even for allowable purposes.  However, such permits do not excuse a
person from following the state's open-burning rules.