Chapel Hill, NC Fire Regulations: Outdoor Burning (2026)

The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality's Open Burning Rule (15A NCAC 02D .1900) is the foundational statewide standard: all open burning is prohibited except those categories explicitly allowed in 15A NCAC 02D .1903 (permissible open burning). The categories most often invoked - leaves, tree branches and yard trimmings originating on the premises - are themselves prohibited if the burning occurs in an area where regular trash and yard-waste pickup is provided, as it is throughout Chapel Hill. Residential yard-waste burning that is otherwise permissible is restricted to 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and may only occur when the air-quality forecast is Code Green or Code Yellow. It is always illegal under the state rule to burn solid waste, construction materials, or anything man-made and non-vegetative. The NC Forest Service issues burn permits under NCGS Chapter 113, but inside the Town limits of Chapel Hill, Carrboro, and Hillsborough Orange County's official position (echoed by NC DEQ) is that burning yard debris and leaves is illegal regardless of any NCFS permit. Inside Chapel Hill the only outdoor open-flame recreation explicitly allowed under the NC Fire Code (adopted by Chapter 7 Article II) is: (a) recreational fires (Sec. 307.4.2) - pile no larger than 3 ft diameter x 2 ft height, at least 25 ft from any structure or combustible material, conditions causing fire spread within 25 ft eliminated prior to ignition, constantly attended until extinguished, and with a 4-A fire extinguisher (or equivalent dirt/sand/garden hose) on site; and (b) portable outdoor fireplaces (Sec. 307.4.3) - manufactured units used in accordance with manufacturer's instructions, at least 15 ft from a structure or combustible material at 1- and 2-family dwellings, and not less than 15 ft at other occupancies. NC OSFM and the NC Agriculture Commissioner may issue statewide burn bans under NCGS Chapter 113 (as on March 20, 2025 when NCDA&CS issued a statewide ban for all 100 counties). Enforcement is by the Chapel Hill Fire Department Fire Marshal's Office (919-968-2781) and NC DEQ Air Quality.