Outdoor burning rules in Baltimore County, MD — also called the burn ban, open burning, or fire restriction ordinance — set when you can burn yard waste, debris, or run a recreational fire.
Open burning, including recreational bonfires, is prohibited inside the Beltway (I-695). Outside the Beltway, bonfires need a Fire Marshal permit. Leaf burning is banned throughout the County. Maryland also bans most open fires June 1–August 31.
Under COMAR 26.11.07.02 a person may not cause or permit an open fire except as allowed by the regulations. In Baltimore County and other central-Maryland jurisdictions, open burning is prohibited June 1 through August 31, with narrow exceptions for cooking and recreational campfires. Baltimore County additionally prohibits all open burning inside the Beltway (I-695) and bans leaf burning countywide. Outside the Beltway, recreational bonfires require a permit from the Office of the Fire Marshal (410-887-4880); agricultural burning also needs approval from the county Department of Environmental Protection and Sustainability.
Illegal open burning violates COMAR 26.11.07 and the county fire code; the Fire Marshal and Maryland Department of the Environment can order extinguishment and impose fines.
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See how Baltimore County's outdoor burning rules stack up against other locations.
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