Greenville, NC Fire Regulations: Outdoor Burning (2026)

Section 12-1-19 prohibits any person from causing, suffering, allowing or permitting the open burning of refuse or other combustible materials. The ordinance lists leaves, tree branches, yard trimmings, construction materials and scrap materials as illustrative examples, but says that list is not complete or exhaustive, so the ban reaches other combustible refuse too. Three carve-outs exist. First, outdoor cooking on commercially obtained or specifically constructed food-cooking containers, commercially obtained outdoor lighting such as tiki torches, and chimineas fall outside the prohibition entirely. Second, the Greenville Fire Rescue Department issues open burning permits for bonfires.

Third, the Fire Rescue Department, coordinating with the United States Forestry Service, issues permits for open burning tied to land development, and separately issues permits for flag retirement ceremonies conducted by nonprofit veterans organizations. Any permit can be revoked if the holder breaks its conditions, the reason for the permit no longer applies, or conditions such as weather change. A first violation of the open burning ban carries a $100 civil citation, a second within 365 days rises to $250, and a third or later violation within that window costs $500 per violation.

Civil citations must be paid to the city's Financial Services Department within five business days or the city can send the debt to collections, use the state Setoff Debt Collection Act, pursue equitable remedies, or file suit to collect it. The ordinance was last amended by Ordinance No. 23-049 on June 8, 2023, and each day a violation continues counts as a separate offense.