Outdoor burning rules in Cornelius, 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.
Open burning in Cornelius is tightly restricted. The Town generally prohibits burning of trash, leaves, and yard waste within municipal limits, and NC DEQ rules forbid burning within 100 feet of an occupied dwelling without a permit.
Under 15A NCAC 02D .1903 and Cornelius town ordinances, open burning of household garbage, plastics, and treated lumber is prohibited at all times. Burning of leaves and yard debris is severely limited inside municipal limits where trash collection is available. The Cornelius-Lemley Fire Rescue and NC Forest Service may issue burn bans during drought. Any permitted burning must end by 4 PM per state rule 15A NCAC 02D .1903 and must be attended until fully extinguished.
Illegal open burning can result in civil penalties up to 10,000 dollars per day under NC DEQ rules. Town civil penalties start at 100 dollars per violation.
Cornelius, NC
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Cornelius, NC
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Cornelius, NC
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Cornelius, NC
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Cornelius, NC
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Cornelius, NC
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Side-by-side rule comparisons with other cities in Mecklenburg County.
See how other cities in Mecklenburg County handle outdoor burning.
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