Outdoor burning rules in Burlington, VT — 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 of brush or yard debris in Burlington requires a written permit from the Burlington Fire Department and is generally limited to specific seasons and weather conditions consistent with Vermont air-quality rules.
Vermont 10 V.S.A. and Department of Environmental Conservation air-pollution rules prohibit burning trash, plastics, or treated wood and tightly limit when outdoor burns may occur. In Burlington, the Fire Department issues case-by-case open-burn permits for activities such as brush piles on larger residential lots and only when wind, humidity, and air-quality conditions are acceptable. Most dense city lots will not qualify because of proximity to neighbors. Burns must be supervised at all times, located safe distances from structures and the lake, and fully extinguished before being left. BFD may revoke a permit if conditions change.
BFD revocation, civil fines under Ch. 19, and Vermont DEC air-pollution penalties for prohibited materials or unauthorized burns.
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See how Burlington's outdoor burning rules stack up against other locations.
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