Outdoor burning rules in El Paso, TX — 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 of yard waste, trash, and debris is prohibited in El Paso under Chapter 9.36 and Texas Commission on Environmental Quality rules for the El Paso nonattainment area.
El Paso is a TCEQ-designated ozone nonattainment area, so outdoor burning rules are stricter than most Texas cities. 30 TAC 111.219 prohibits outdoor burning countywide with limited exceptions. Chapter 9.36 of the Municipal Code further restricts burning within city limits. Cooking fires in properly designed grills and recreational fires with clean wood are permitted subject to fire pit rules. Agricultural burns, land-clearing fires, and burning of household waste are all prohibited. Burn bans announced by El Paso County Commissioners Court add additional prohibitions during drought.
Class C misdemeanor under Chapter 9.36, $500 to $2,000 per offense. TCEQ may also pursue separate environmental penalties up to $25,000 per day.
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See how El Paso's outdoor burning rules stack up against other locations.
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