Kanawha County, WV Fire Regulations: Outdoor Burning (2026)
Outdoor burning rules in Kanawha County, WV, 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
- Fire Seasons
- Mar–May, Oct–Dec
- Season Hours
- 5 p.m. to 7 a.m.
- Trash Burning
- Prohibited statewide
- Drought Bans
- WV Division of Forestry
- Statute
- W. Va. Code §20-3-5
Summary
Outdoor burning is legal in Kanawha County, but West Virginia's forest-fire seasons confine it to 5 p.m.–7 a.m. each spring and fall, and burning household trash is banned statewide under WV DEP air rules.
March 1 through May 31, and October 1 through December 31 are designated as forest fire seasons. During any fire season, a person may set on fire or cause to be set on fire any forest land, or any grass, grain, stubble, slash, debris, or other inflammable materials only between 5 p.m. and 7 a.m., at which time the fire must be extinguished.
Full Breakdown
Two layers govern outdoor burning. W. Va. Code §20-3-5 designates March 1 to May 31 and October 1 to December 31 as forest-fire seasons; during them a fire may burn only between 5 p.m. and 7 a.m. and must sit inside a cleared safety strip with someone attending. On top of that, WV DEP air-quality rules prohibit burning household garbage, and only clean vegetative material may be burned. The WV Division of Forestry issues burn bans during drought, which can hit dry spells along the Kanawha and Elk River valleys. Outside fire season, burning yard debris in daylight is generally allowed with a cleared strip.
Violations & Fines
Burning outside the 5 p.m.–7 a.m. season window violates §20-3-5, with fines of $100 to $1,000 plus a $200 civil penalty. Burning household trash is a separate WV DEP air-quality violation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I burn yard waste in Kanawha County?
Is there a burn ban right now?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Kanawha County
How Kanawha County compares: Cities with the Strictest Outdoor Burning Rules·Compare Kanawha County to another location·View the West Virginia fire regulations overview
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