Charleston County, SC Fire Regulations: Outdoor Burning (2026)
Outdoor burning rules in Charleston County, SC, also called the burn ban, open burning, or fire restriction ordinance, set when you can burn yard waste, debris, or run a recreational fire.
Key Facts
- Default rule
- Open burning prohibited
- Yard-debris exemption
- Reg 61-62.2 Section I.A
- Notify first
- SC Forestry Commission (unincorporated)
- Allowed material
- On-site leaves, limbs, branches
- Banned material
- Trash, treated wood, off-site debris
Summary
Open burning is prohibited statewide under SC Regulation 61-62.2, except that residents may burn leaves, tree branches, or yard trimmings that originate on and are burned on their own home's premises. You must notify the SC Forestry Commission first in unincorporated areas.
Open burning of leaves, tree branches or yard trimmings originating on the premises of private residences and burned on those premises.
Full Breakdown
SC DES Regulation 61-62.2 states open burning is prohibited except for listed exemptions. Section I.A allows 'Open burning of leaves, tree branches or yard trimmings originating on the premises of private residences and burned on those premises.' State law also requires citizens in unincorporated areas to notify the SC Forestry Commission before burning outdoors (scfc.gov/notify or the county burn line). You must limit fires to vegetative material, clear a firebreak, keep control equipment on hand, and stay with the fire until it is out. Household trash, treated wood, and materials hauled in from off-site may not be burned.
Violations & Fines
Illegal open burning is a DES air-quality violation; a written warning at one site is deemed adequate notice, and repeat violations trigger legal action and possible fines.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I burn leaves in unincorporated Charleston County?
Do I have to call before burning yard debris?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Charleston County
How Charleston County compares: Cities with the Strictest Outdoor Burning Rules·Compare Charleston County to another location·View the South Carolina fire regulations overview
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