Chelan County, WA Fire Regulations: Outdoor Burning (2026)

Activity restrictions are enforced by the Chelan County sheriff or fire marshal, as conditions warrant, throughout unincorporated areas designated as a fire hazard area (Section 7.52.040(1)). In the first stage, beginning June 1 in the Valley Zone (or by July 1 in the Chelan Mountain Zone if seasonal drying requires it), the code prohibits all land clearing and burning of yard debris outright with no listed exception, bans exploding targets and incendiary ammunition, and imposes a general "restricted outdoor fires" rule barring any person from building, igniting, or maintaining an outdoor fire of any kind, subject only to the narrow exception for a compliant, designated campfire area.

In the second stage, beginning around July 1 in both zones, the restricted-outdoor-fires ban is reiterated, all recreational campfires (including those in compliant pits) become prohibited, the use of charcoal briquettes is prohibited, and target shooting is barred outside of gun ranges while hunting in open areas remains permitted. The fire marshal reserves the right to add or lessen restrictions as the fire danger rating changes, and by Section 7.52.040(2), activity restrictions stay in force until October 1 unless revised under the designation procedure in Section 7.52.020.

Notice of the restrictions is posted with signage at points of closure on county roads under Section 7.52.070, and the list of restricted areas is kept at the county engineer's office and on the Public Works Department's website per Section 7.52.060.