Jessamine County, KY Fire Regulations: Outdoor Burning (2026)

Chapter 91 of the Jessamine County Code, adopted by the Fiscal Court, regulates open burning in two layers. The first is a ban on demand. Under § 91.19(A), the Judge Executive or a designee is authorized to enact by executive order a ban on all open burning in the unincorporated areas of the county, either when he or she determines that a major fire hazard exists or when notified by the Kentucky Division of Forestry that such a hazard exists. Once the executive order is signed, subsection (B) says no person is allowed to participate in open burning in the unincorporated areas. Subsection (C) makes the ban enforceable by all sworn peace officers of the county, and offenders are referred to the County Attorney for prosecution pursuant to KRS 149.401.

The second layer is the notice rule that applies to every open burn. Section 91.50 defines open burning as any fire whose purpose is to burn vegetation, debris from excavation, or debris from a construction project. The term does not include fires set for the purpose of burning plant beds. Under § 91.51, a person, corporation or other entity that wants to burn must post two signs giving notice to the public of the intent to set a fire, and must tell the local fire department by telephonic or verbal communication to the Fire Chief or designee before burning.

Section 91.52 spells out the signs. They are posted in two prominent and conspicuous locations on the property, placed to alert surrounding residents. Each sign is built of durable material, states Open Burning along with the time and date of the burning, and uses lettering and numbering at least three inches in height. The signs go up at least 24 hours before the burn and stay up until the fire is extinguished.

Section 91.53 makes the subchapter enforceable by all sworn peace officers of the county, and the Judge Executive's ban reaches only the unincorporated areas, where Nicholasville and Wilmore are not covered.