Outdoor burning rules in Dorchester 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.
Outdoor burning is legal in unincorporated Dorchester County under state rules, but S.C. Code 48-35-10 requires Forestry Commission notification before burning near woodlands, and drought burn bans can prohibit all outdoor fires countywide.
Two layers govern open burning. The South Carolina Forestry Commission handles woodland fire: S.C. Code 48-35-10 makes it unlawful to start a fire in or next to woodlands, brush, or grass without first notifying the Commission and clearing a firebreak. SCDHEC's open-burning rule, Regulation 61-62.2, controls what may burn, allowing yard debris and prohibiting household trash, tires, and treated wood. When drought grips the Lowcountry, the Forestry Commission or Governor issues a burn ban that halts all outdoor burning across Dorchester County until conditions ease. Summerville, St. George, and Ridgeville enforce their own open-burning ordinances inside town limits, where burning is often more tightly restricted.
Burning during a Forestry Commission or gubernatorial burn ban is a misdemeanor, as is burning prohibited materials under SCDHEC Regulation 61-62.2. The burner also bears the cost of any escaped fire.
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