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Union County, NC Fire Regulations: Outdoor Burning (2026)

Some Restrictions

Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified August 2026

Outdoor burning rules in Union County, NC, 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

Core rule: No fire on county property without permit
Governing section: Sec. 30-23
Scope: County-owned or leased land only
Maximum criminal penalty: $500 fine, 20 days jail
Private land: Governed by NC Fire Code/state rules, not this section

Summary

Union County outlaws setting or kindling any fire on county-owned or leased property unless a permit expressly allows it. The rule reaches parks and other government land, not private property generally, where state open-burning law and the NC Fire Code control instead.

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

It shall be unlawful for anyone to set a fire on county property unless expressly allowed by a permit.

View official code

Full Breakdown

Sec. " The same Article II, County Property, repeats the restriction for camping-related fires in Sec. " Both sections apply only to property the county owns, leases, or otherwise lawfully possesses, defined broadly in Sec. 30-19(a) as "county property," with an exception carved out for designated paid camping sites at Cane Creek Park. 00 for each subsequent offense within 12 months. Open burning on private land in unincorporated Union County is governed by state air-quality rules administered by the North Carolina Division of Air Quality, not by this county-property-specific bonfire ban.

Violations & Fines

Sec. 30-24 makes a violation of the Article II fire restriction a Class 3 misdemeanor punishable by up to $500.00 and up to 20 days' imprisonment, alongside escalating civil penalties of $50.00, $200.00, and $500.00 for the first, second, and third-or-later citation. The county can additionally pursue an injunction or abatement order under G.S. 153A-123, and unpaid civil penalties can be collected as a civil debt.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Union County's bonfire ban apply to my backyard?

No. Sec. 30-23 and Sec. 30-19(d) only reach property the county owns, leases, or otherwise controls, such as parks and government buildings. Open burning on private land in unincorporated Union County falls under the North Carolina Fire Code and state air-quality rules, not this county-property section.

Can I get a permit to have a campfire on Union County property?

Sec. 30-23 allows a fire on county property only if "expressly allowed by a permit," and Sec. 30-19(d) uses the same permit-or-policy standard for campfires and bonfires. Without that permit, lighting any fire on county-owned or leased land is unlawful.

What is the penalty for an illegal fire on Union County property?

Sec. 30-24 classifies it as a Class 3 misdemeanor with up to a $500.00 fine and up to 20 days in jail, plus a civil penalty starting at $50.00 for a first citation and rising to $500.00 for a third or later one.

Sources & Official References

[1]Union County Code of Ordinances § 30-23

Other rules in Union County

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All Union County rules

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

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