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Island County, WA Fire Regulations: Outdoor Burning (2026)

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

Outdoor burning rules in Island County, WA, 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

Permitting agency
Island County Health Services Director
No-burn UGAs
Oak Harbor, Coupeville, Freeland, Langley
Land clearing infraction
$250.00 (Class 1)
Other burning infraction
$125.00 (Class 2)
Structure setback
50 feet minimum
Governing law
Ch. 70.94 RCW; WAC 173-425

Summary

Unincorporated Island County requires a permit from the Health Services Director for residential burning, bonfires, and land clearing under Chapter 9.10. Residential and land-clearing burning are banned outright in the Oak Harbor, Coupeville, Freeland, and Langley Urban Growth Areas.

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

Outdoor burning is only allowed in Island County if such outdoor burning complies with this chapter and chapter 173-425 WAC. ... Limited outdoor burning areas. Pursuant to WAC 173-425-040, residential burning and land clearing burning are prohibited within the limited outdoor burning areas. The limited outdoor burning areas are the following Urban Growth Areas (UGAs): The Oak Harbor Urban Growth Area, the Coupeville Urban Growth Area, the Freeland Non-Municipal Urban Growth Area, and the Langley Urban Growth Area, and the incorporated cities and town within those UGAs. ... A person may only cause or allow a bonfire, residential burning, or land clearing burning in the unincorporated area of Island County if the person first obtains a burning permit issued by the Island County Health Services Director, or his or her designee, except as restricted by section 9.40.340 and section 9.10.040.B.

View official code

Full Breakdown

020). C designates the Oak Harbor, Coupeville, Freeland Non-Municipal, and Langley Urban Growth Areas as limited outdoor burning areas where residential burning and land clearing burning are banned outright; material hauled from those areas cannot be burned elsewhere except firewood. D). E. F). K-L). 060).

Violations & Fines

Burning without the required permit, or violating a permit's conditions, is a civil infraction under Section 9.10.070: a Class 1 infraction ($250.00) for land clearing burning violations, a Class 2 infraction ($125.00) for all other violations, with each day counted separately. A violator must still obtain the required permit and pay its fee on top of the infraction fine, and a responding fire district may recover its response costs from the person responsible.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a permit to burn yard debris in unincorporated Island County?
Yes, for residential burning outside the limited burning areas. Section 9.10.040.E requires a permit from the Health Services Director before burning leaves, clippings, and yard debris, unless the fire qualifies as an unpermitted small recreational fire.
Can I burn at all if I live in the Oak Harbor or Langley Urban Growth Area?
No. Section 9.10.040.C bans residential burning and land clearing burning outright inside the Oak Harbor, Coupeville, Freeland, and Langley Urban Growth Areas, regardless of permit.
What is the fine for burning without a permit?
Section 9.10.070 makes it a Class 2 civil infraction with a $125.00 fine for most unpermitted burning, or a Class 1 infraction at $250.00 for land clearing burning, and you still must get the permit and pay its fee.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Island County

Fence Regulations: Height LimitsSome RestrictionsFire Pits & Backyard FiresLight RestrictionsFireworksSome RestrictionsPropane StorageSome RestrictionsParking Rules: EV ChargingLight RestrictionsFence Regulations: Retaining WallsSome RestrictionsFence Regulations: Fence Permit RequirementsSignificant RestrictionsFence Regulations: Neighbor Fence RulesFew RestrictionsAnimal Ordinances: Veterinary Clinic ZoningSome Restrictions

All Island County rules

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

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