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Iron County, UT Fire Regulations: Outdoor Burning (2026)

Significant Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Outdoor burning rules in Iron County, UT, 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

Closed season
June 1-Oct 31 and Nov 16-Feb
Open season
Mar 1-May 31 and Nov 1-15
Open-season permit
Written county permit required
Clearing index minimum
500 for permit validity
Violation class
Class C misdemeanor

Summary

Iron County Code § 8.04.100 bans open burning in the unincorporated county during the closed fire season, June 1 through October 31 and November 16 through the end of February, without a state permit. Section 8.04.101 requires a written county burning permit during the open season, March 1 through May 31 and November 1 through 15.

These county ordinances apply to unincorporated areas of Iron County. Incorporated cities within the county may have their own rules that take precedence over county-level regulations.

A.Burning Prohibited; Exemptions. Subject to exemptions in this chapter, burning is prohibited during the statutorily closed fire season from June 1 through October 31 and the regulatory closed fire season from November 16 through the last day of February. Where state statue permits, from June 1 to October 31, and the person obtains a state issued closed season burning permit prior to burning, persons may burn pursuant to the terms of the state issued permit. ... A.Burning Permit Required. Subject to exceptions in this chapter, persons shall obtain a written county burning permit which shall be filled out completely before starting a fire in the unincorporated areas of the county during the open fire season which is March 1 through May 31 and November 1 through November 15.

Full Breakdown

Chapter 8.04 splits the burning year into a closed season and an open season for the unincorporated county. Section 8.04.100(A) prohibits burning during the statutorily closed fire season, June 1 through October 31, and the regulatory closed season, November 16 through the last day of February, except where state law allows a person to obtain a state-issued closed-season burning permit before burning; Section 8.04.100(B) then requires notifying the local fire department of the approximate burn time once that state permit is obtained. Section 8.04.101 governs the open fire season, March 1 through May 31 and November 1 through November 15: subsection A requires a written county burning permit filled out completely before starting a fire, and subsection B ties issuance to the Utah Air Conservation Regulations, including a requirement that the National Weather Service clearing index be 500 or above for the permit to be valid, checkable through the NWS Salt Lake City office.

Subsection C bars issuing permits during red-flag conditions, and subsection D lets the state fire warden or the responsible fire protection official postpone, revoke or deny a permit for environmental conditions, public nuisance, incompetency, or risk to public safety. Both sections exempt local, state or federal fire officials acting in the performance of duty, and Section 8.04.102 separately exempts cooking devices, indoor fireplaces and small recreational campfires meeting listed safety conditions. A violation of either section is a Class C misdemeanor, punishable as provided in Section 1.08.010.

Violations & Fines

Burning without the required permit during the closed season, June 1 through October 31 or November 16 through the last day of February, violates § 8.04.100. Burning without a county permit during the open season, March 1 through May 31 or November 1 through 15, violates § 8.04.101. Both sections make a violation a Class C misdemeanor, punishable under the general penalty schedule in § 1.08.010.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is open burning allowed in unincorporated Iron County?
Only outside the closed fire season, June 1 through October 31 and November 16 through the last day of February, and even then only with a state-issued closed-season permit. During the open season, March 1 through May 31 and November 1 through 15, a written county burning permit is required under § 8.04.101.
What is the clearing index requirement for an open-season burn permit?
Section 8.04.101(B) makes the permit invalid unless the National Weather Service clearing index is 500 or above on the day of the burn, a figure available through the NWS Salt Lake City office by phone or its website.
What happens if I burn without a permit during the closed season?
A violation of § 8.04.100 is a Class C misdemeanor, punishable under the county's general penalty in § 1.08.010. The same penalty applies to burning without a county permit during the open season under § 8.04.101.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Iron County

All Iron County rules

How Iron County compares: Cities with the Strictest Outdoor Burning Rules·Compare Iron County to another location·View the Utah fire regulations overview

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