Lancaster County, SC Fire Regulations: Outdoor Burning (2026)

Section 14-101 sets the baseline: no person may kindle or maintain, or authorize anyone else to kindle or maintain, open burning anywhere in the unincorporated county except as the rest of Article V allows. Permitted burning still carries conditions: Section 14-103 requires a competent attendant to stay with the fire until it's out, with a garden hose or other extinguishing equipment on hand, and requires notice to the state forester. Section 14-105 bars all open burning on county roads, drainage rights-of-way, or areas that could damage them.

Section 14-106 lists materials no one may ever burn: hazardous or toxic substances, asphalt, paint, plastics, metals, treated wood, paper, petroleum products, demolition and construction debris, dead animals, household chemicals and garbage, tires, trade waste and cardboard, and separately bars land-clearing and right-of-way burns during May through September except on parcels zoned R-45, R-45A or R-45B. Section 14-107 exempts forestry and agricultural burns authorized by the state forestry commission, food-preparation and recreational fires done safely, contractor land-clearing during new construction, and authorized firefighter training burns.

Section 14-108 gives county fire officials, defined as the fire service director, deputy director, fire marshal and fire commission chairman, authority to prohibit open burning by majority vote when atmospheric conditions or other circumstances make fires hazardous. Section 14-100 subordinates the whole article to state law where the two conflict, and Section 14-109 makes clear an authorized burn doesn't erase civil or criminal liability for damage it causes.