Monroe Township (Middlesex County), NJ Fire Regulations: Outdoor Burning (2026)

The prohibition is one sentence in § 108-5.21(D)(2)(b)[4] of the Monroe Township Code: no open burning shall be permitted in any zone. It sits inside the air pollution standard, which says no substance can be emitted into the atmosphere in quantities injurious to human, plant or animal life or to property, or that interfere unreasonably with the comfortable enjoyment of life and property anywhere in the municipality. The New Jersey Air Pollution Control Code and the section's own provisions both apply, whichever is more stringent. The next item, [5], requires that all incinerators be approved by the State Department of Environmental Protection.

Neighboring standards in the same subsection give the measurable limits. Under (D)(2)(a), in any zone no smoke darker than No. 1 of the Ringelmann Smoke Chart can be emitted into the open air from any incinerator or fuel-burning equipment. Smoke no darker than No. 2 is allowed while cleaning a fire box or building a new fire, for a period or periods aggregating no more than three minutes in any 30 consecutive minutes. In any residential zone, discharge of solid particles through a stack, duct or vent cannot exceed 50% of the allowable emission established by Chapters 7 and 8 of the New Jersey Air Pollution Control Code.

The provision read here prints no permit procedure, no burn-ban declaration authority and no definition of open burning, so it works as a flat zoning prohibition rather than a seasonal ban. Continued compliance is enforced by the Construction Official or the Administrative Officer (Zoning Officer) under § 108-5.21(C)(2). Section 58 of the junkyard chapter separately forbids a licensee from burning goods, wares, motor vehicles or merchandise on the licensed premises.