Austin, TX Fire Regulations: Outdoor Burning (2026)
Outdoor burning rules in Austin, TX, 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
- Permit required
- For rubbish, warming, bonfire and ag burns
- Permit issuer
- Austin Fire emergency prevention division
- Ag burn minimum parcel
- 150 contiguous acres, AG zoning
- Burn ban rule
- No burning during weather-related bans
- Mobile incinerator setback
- 300 feet from occupied structure
Summary
Austin requires an Austin Fire Department permit before anyone kindles a rubbish fire, bonfire, warming fire or agricultural burn anywhere in the city, effectively banning unpermitted open burning under Fire Code Sec. 307.2, and even permitted agricultural burns must stop the moment a weather-related burn ban takes effect under Sec. 308.7.3.
307.2 Permit required. A permit shall be obtained from the fire department emergency prevention division in accordance with Section 105.6 prior to kindling a fire for recognized silvicultural or range or wildlife management practices, prevention or control of disease or pests, a warming fire, a rubbish fire, or a bonfire. Application for such approval shall only be presented by and permits issued to the owner of the land upon which the fire is to be kindled. ... 308.7.3 Burning bans. Burning shall not be permitted during any weather related burn bans.
Full Breakdown
2 of Austin's local Fire Code amendments (City Code Sec. " Only an applicant who owns the land where the fire will burn may apply. 2 permit: trench burners (Sec. weekdays; mobile incinerators (Sec. 6) must stay at least 300 feet from any occupied structure or recreational area; and agricultural burning (Sec. 7) is limited to AG-zoned parcels of at least 150 contiguous acres, sited at least 1,320 feet from the nearest park, building or structure. All three categories share one hard weather stop: Sec.
3, titled "Burning bans," states flatly that burning shall not be permitted during any weather related burn bans, while the trench-burner and mobile-incinerator rules separately bar operation during air stagnation advisories and during periods of high fire hazard weather conditions. Because Travis County and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality both issue burn bans and outdoor-burning restrictions during drought, an Austin permit does not override a county- or state-declared ban; the ordinance text builds that weather-driven restriction directly into the conditions of the city permit.
Violations & Fines
Kindling an open fire without the required Sec. 307.2 permit, or burning during an active weather-related burn ban under Sec. 308.7.3, is a Fire Code misdemeanor citable under City Code Sec. 25-1-462, prosecuted in Municipal Court. The fire code official may also order the fire extinguished immediately and pursue civil or administrative remedies under Sec. 113.3.3.2, including attorney's fees, on top of any criminal citation for the same burn.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I get a permit to burn yard debris or trash in Austin?
Does a county burn ban stop a fire I already have an Austin permit for?
Can I burn agricultural waste inside Austin city limits?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Austin
How Austin compares: Cities with the Strictest Outdoor Burning Rules·Texas rules heatmap·Compare Austin to another location·View the Texas fire regulations overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.
Outdoor Burning in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Travis County handle outdoor burning.