Bowling Green, KY Fire Regulations: Outdoor Burning (2026)

Bowling Green's open-burning rule is in Chapter XII (Fire Prevention), Section 12-6 (Open Burning) of the Code of Ordinances. Open burning is not permitted in Bowling Green without prior approval; the Bowling Green Fire Department may issue burn permits for approved sites within city limits consisting of natural vegetation. The Fire Department dispatches suppression units to any un-permitted burn to extinguish unlawful or uncontrolled fires. For residential burn permits, materials are limited to natural vegetation; pallets, treated lumber, trash, and similar synthetic or processed materials are prohibited. Permitted burning hours are 6:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. only during the windows of February 15 through April 30 and October 1 through December 15. The pile may be no more than 4 feet in height, must be at least 30 feet from woodlands, grasslands, or other combustibles, and may not be ignited if wind speeds are 10 mph or higher. The applicant must remain with the burn until it reaches a smoldering phase, and a sufficient extinguishing method must be present (water hose preferred). Burn permit applications must be received by 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday for site inspection the following Thursday. These hour windows align with Kentucky's statutory forest-fire hazard seasons (KRS 149.400) administered by the Kentucky Division of Forestry, which bans outdoor burning within 150 feet of any woodland or brushland between the hours of 6:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. from February 15 to April 30 and October 1 to December 15.