Chatham County, NC Fire Regulations: Outdoor Burning (2026)
Outdoor burning rules in Chatham County, NC, also called the burn ban, open burning, or fire restriction ordinance, set when you can burn yard waste, debris, or run a recreational fire.
Key Facts
- C&D open burning
- Unlawful, § 110.12(B)
- C&D burning penalty
- Up to $500 fine/30 days, plus $500 civil
- General illegal burning penalty
- $150/day after one warning, Appendix C
- Enforcing agencies
- Solid Waste and Recycling Division; Fire Marshal
- General open burning source
- State Fire Prevention Code, adopted § 93.03
Summary
Chatham County bans open burning of construction and demolition debris outright. County Code § 110.12(B) makes it unlawful to dispose of C&D debris through open burning, enforced by the Solid Waste and Recycling Division with penalties up to a $500 fine, 30 days in jail, or a $500 civil penalty per § 110.99. The county's fire code, adopted from the State Fire Prevention Code under § 93.03, separately governs other open burning.
It shall be unlawful tor any person to: ... (B) Dispose of C&D debris through open burning. ... (A) Criminal penalties. Any person who violates any provision of this chapter shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, shall be subject to a fine not to exceed $500, or imprisonment for not more than 30 days, or both. ... (B) Civil penalties. Any person who violates any provision of this chapter shall be subject to a civil penalty not to exceed $500 as provided herein to be recovered in a civil action in the nature of debt if the offender does not pay the penalty within ten days after being cited for a violation.
Full Breakdown
Chatham County regulates open burning through two chapters. 12(B) is direct: it is unlawful to dispose of C&D debris through open burning. 08. 99: violators face a misdemeanor with a fine up to $500 or up to 30 days in jail, or both, and separately a civil penalty up to $500 recoverable as a civil debt if not paid within ten days of citation, with each day of continued violation counted as a separate offense. 99(C). 05 govern.
Violations & Fines
Burning C&D debris in the open is a misdemeanor punishable by up to a $500 fine or 30 days in jail, plus a separate civil penalty up to $500 under § 110.99, with each day of continued burning a distinct offense. General illegal burning under the adopted State Fire Prevention Code draws a $150-per-violation-per-day civil penalty after one written warning, per the fire chapter's Appendix C schedule.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I burn construction debris on my own property in Chatham County?
Who enforces the open burning ban on demolition debris?
Does Chatham County have its own rules for regular yard-debris burning?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Chatham County
How Chatham County compares: Cities with the Strictest Outdoor Burning Rules·Compare Chatham County to another location·View the North Carolina fire regulations overview
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