Outdoor burning rules in New York County, NY — also called the burn ban, open burning, or fire restriction ordinance — set when you can burn yard waste, debris, or run a recreational fire.
Open burning of refuse, leaves, and yard waste is entirely prohibited throughout New York County under 6 NYCRR Part 215 and the NYC Fire Code. Manhattan is fully excluded from residential open burn allowances.
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation regulation 6 NYCRR Part 215 bans open burning statewide, with narrow exceptions for campfires, ceremonial fires, and small brush fires in towns with populations under a certain threshold. New York City, which includes all of New York County, is explicitly excluded from every residential exception. The NYC Fire Code (FC 307) further prohibits open burning except for commercial cooking and certain permitted operations. Burning leaves, yard waste, construction debris, or garbage is illegal anywhere in Manhattan and can result in summonses from FDNY and DEC. Fines for open burning start at 500 dollars and can reach 11,000 dollars per day for repeat offenders. Because Manhattan is almost entirely dense urban area with no forest interface, even small fires present significant public safety risk.
Contact your local code enforcement office for specific penalty information.
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See how New York County's outdoor burning rules stack up against other locations.
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