Outdoor burning rules in Broome County, NY — also called the burn ban, open burning, or fire restriction ordinance — set when you can burn yard waste, debris, or run a recreational fire.
New York State imposes an annual residential brush-burning prohibition from March 16 through May 14, which applies to Broome County. Outside that window, Broome County regulates outdoor burning under its Code Article V §305-22 and NYS DEC's open-burning rules (6 NYCRR Part 215), which permanently ban burning trash, leaves, and treated wood statewide.
Broome County follows the statewide New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) open-burning rule (6 NYCRR Part 215), supplemented by Broome County Code Article V §305-22 (Fire Prevention) and local town/village burn ordinances. The annual NY statewide spring burn ban runs from March 16 through May 14 each year and prohibits the burning of brush, leaves, leaf piles, brush piles, and chemically treated wood. The ban does NOT apply to small cooking fires or campfires that are less than 3 feet in height and 4 feet in length/width/diameter; gas or propane fire pits; or fully enclosed fire pits with a fire guard. Burning of household trash, tires, demolition debris, plastics, treated lumber, and other refuse is illegal year-round statewide under 6 NYCRR Part 215. After May 14, residents in Broome County may burn small piles of brush on their own property in towns of fewer than 20,000 residents, subject to local fire-district approval, dry-vegetation conditions, and the requirement that the fire is controlled and does not cause a public nuisance. The county and NYSDEC may impose additional emergency burn bans during periods of high fire danger.
Open burning during the March 16–May 14 ban, or burning prohibited materials at any time, is a violation of 6 NYCRR Part 215 with fines starting at $500 for the first offense and escalating to thousands of dollars for repeat or commercial violations. Local enforcement falls to Broome County Sheriff (607-778-1191), local fire departments, and NYSDEC Environmental Conservation Officers. After a wildfire ignition traced to illegal burning, civil restitution can also be sought.
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