Darlington County, SC Fire Regulations: Outdoor Burning (2026)
Outdoor burning rules in Darlington County, SC, 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
- Setback (structure/road)
- At least 25 feet
- Setback (dwelling/business)
- At least 50 feet
- Fire chief authority
- Can prohibit burning in hazardous conditions
- Banned materials
- Tires, treated wood, plastics, paint, asphalt
- Applies to
- Unincorporated Darlington County only
Summary
Unincorporated Darlington County allows residents and businesses to burn leaves, tree branches and yard trimmings on their own property, but only if the fire stays at least 25 feet from any structure or road, or 50 feet if that structure is a dwelling or business. Several materials are always off-limits, including tires, treated wood, paint, plastics and asphalt. The county fire chief can shut all open burning down when conditions turn hazardous.
(a)No person shall kindle or maintain any open burning or authorize any such fire to be kindled or maintained within the unincorporated areas of the county, except as stated in this article. ... (c)Open burning on the premises of private residences and businesses. Open burning of leaves, tree branches and yard trimmings originating on the premises of private residences or businesses and burned on those premises shall be permitted, provided that any fire must be located not less than 25 feet from any structure or road and adequate provision has been made to prevent the fire from spreading to within 25 feet of any such structure or road. Provided, however, if the structure is a dwelling or business, any fire must be located not less than 50 feet from the dwelling or business. ... (f)Fires shall be prohibited as follows:(1)The county fire chief may prohibit open burning when atmospheric conditions, local circumstances or other conditions exist that would make such fires hazardous. ... (4)The following materials shall not be burned in an open fire: asphalt and asphaltic materials, paint, plastics, metals, treated wood ... tires, trade waste and cardboard.
Full Breakdown
Section 26-2(a) opens with a general ban: no person shall kindle or maintain any open burning within the unincorporated areas of the county, except as stated in the article. Subsection (c) then permits the main residential case: burning leaves, tree branches and yard trimmings that originate on the premises of a private residence or business and are burned on that same property, but only if the fire is located not less than 25 feet from any structure or road, with provisions made to keep it from spreading within that buffer.
Where the nearby structure is itself a dwelling or business, the required distance doubles to not less than 50 feet from the dwelling or business. Subsection (f) layers on further limits: the county fire chief may prohibit open burning outright when atmospheric conditions, local circumstances or other conditions exist that would make such fires hazardous, and a separate paragraph in the same subsection bars burning a specific list of materials outright, including asphalt and asphaltic materials, paint, plastics, metals, treated wood, tires, trade waste and cardboard, regardless of the setback observed.
The rule applies only within the unincorporated county; the cities of Darlington, Hartsville, Lamar and Society Hill enforce their own separate codes inside their limits.
Violations & Fines
Igniting a leaf, branch or yard-trimming fire closer than 25 feet to a structure or road, or closer than 50 feet where that structure is a dwelling or business, violates Section 26-2(c) outright. Burning any of the listed materials, including tires, treated wood, paint or plastics, is barred under Section 26-2(f) regardless of the distance observed, and the county fire chief can shut down all open burning in advance under the same subsection whenever atmospheric or local conditions make it hazardous, overriding the normal setback allowance until the hazard passes.
Frequently Asked Questions
How far from my house can I burn yard trimmings in unincorporated Darlington County?
Can I burn old tires or treated lumber in a yard fire?
Can the county stop me from burning yard debris even if I meet the setback?
Does this open-burning rule apply inside the City of Darlington?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Darlington County
How Darlington County compares: Cities with the Strictest Outdoor Burning Rules·Compare Darlington County to another location·View the South Carolina fire regulations overview
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