Outdoor burning rules in Knox County, TN — also called the burn ban, open burning, or fire restriction ordinance — set when you can burn yard waste, debris, or run a recreational fire.
Knox County restricts open burning through its Air Quality Management program. A residential land-management permit lets you burn onsite brush under 3 inches in diameter, only between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m., with all flames out by 4 p.m. Leaves, trash, and construction debris cannot be burned.
Knox County Air Quality Management regulates open burning countywide. Cooking and recreational fires need no permit, but burning yard brush requires a free residential land-management permit and is limited to material grown onsite, 3 inches or less in diameter. Grass clippings, leaves, stumps, paper, plastic, cardboard, household garbage, and construction materials (lumber, pallets, insulation, tires) are prohibited. Piles may not exceed 144 cubic feet (about 6x6x4 feet), must stay 50 feet from any structure, and must be attended at all times. Separately, from October 15 through May 15, the Tennessee Division of Forestry also requires a debris-burn permit for outdoor fires near woodland.
Illegal open burning is enforced by Knox County Air Quality (865-215-5900) with civil penalties up to $25,000 per day per violation; burning without a required Forestry permit is a Class C misdemeanor.
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