Burning Regulations

For your safety, OPEN BURNING REGULATIONS must be followed, even when a permit is NOT required.

• OUTDOOR BURNING IS OPEN October through May for all permitted and recreational fires, unless restrictive conditions exist such as HIGH FIRE DANGER or BURN BAN.
• OUTDOOR BURNING IS CLOSED June through September. Recreational campfires allowed unless restrictive conditions exist such as HIGH FIRE DANGER or BURN BAN.
• BURN BAN means no recreational campfires, beach fires or outdoor burning allowed.
• STATEWIDE BURN BAN may completely suspend all burning to include BBQs and logging operations. Such tight restrictions may be announced due to extreme fire danger resulting from weather conditions, specific fire conditions, lack of available firefighting personnel or to protect air quality.
• MORAN STATE PARK sometimes allows recreational campfires within the park during a burn ban. This exception is decided at a state level. Fires in Washington State Parks are allowed ONLY in designated fire pits. This is strictly enforced by State Park Rangers.

Contact the San Juan County Fire Marshal's Office for more information on outdoor burning, enforcement, and permits.

Residential Burn Permits

Permits for the residential burning of natural vegetation only may be purchased from the San Juan County Fire Marshal's Office. The cost is $20.00 and is valid through the end of May unless closed earlier due to conditions.

• If a charged water hose is onsite, burn piles may be up to 10 feet in diameter and 6 feet in height. Otherwise, two 5 gallon buckets full of water must be onsite and burn piles are limited to 5 feet in diameter and 5 feet in height. In all cases a metal shovel must be onsite.
• The person attending the burn is responsible for having the appropriate burn permit in their possession.
• YOU are responsible for knowing, understanding and following the open burning regulations, and checking the current fire danger rating.
• If you are uncertain about the burn conditions, please call 360-376-2331.

IMPORTANT NOTE: The person named on the permit and/or the property owner agrees to furnish manpower and equipment to suppress the fire if it escapes for ANY cause and to reimburse the local fire agency for all expenses incurred if such suppression is required.

10-foot Residential Burn Permit Rules

1. Only natural vegetation may be burned. No wood scraps, construction debris, garbage, plastics, petroleum products, paints, dead animals or any material that may emit dense smoke, fly ash or create offensive odors.
2. Only one fire may be burning at one time.
3. A competent adult with a serviceable shovel must be in attendance at all times the fire is burning.
4. A charged garden hose must be available at the burn site. In the absence of a charged hose, two 5 gallon buckets full of water must be onsite and the size of the burn pile is limited.
5. A 2-foot minimum safety perimeter must be cleared in all directions around the burn pile to bare earth.
6. A burn pile may not be ignited if the wind is more than 10 mph. If the wind increases to over 20 mph the fire must be extinguished. Treetops bending is a good indication.
7. All burn piles must be at least 50 feet away from all structures and 500' from Forest slash.
8. Burn Barrels are ILLEGAL and may not be used.
9. Fires may not be ignited less than one hour before sunset.

San Juan County Fire Marshal may issue a monetary citation, revoke your permit, and/or may refer violators to the County Prosecuting Attorney for:

• Burning illegal material
• Burning without competent adult in attendance
• Nuisance smoke, smoke smell, "fly ash"
• Disregard of any permit regulation.
• Any escaped burn.
• A repeat of same or different offense.
• Burning during a Burn Ban
• Burning in a Burn Barrel
• Burning without water available

Commercial Burn Permits require an on-site inspection for pre-approval.

Permits for the commercial burning of natural vegetation only may be purchased for $250.00 and are valid for 30 days. Request an Inspection.

• Commercial burns up to 20 feet in diameter.
• A 40-foot clearing is needed around the commercial burn pile.
• An on-site inspection is required prior to issuance.
• On-site heavy equipment, such as an excavator, is required during the burn.
• Cost is $250 and permits are valid for 30 days.

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More Open Burn Information can be found on the Fire Marshal's website.