Outdoor burning rules in Hawaii County, HI โ also called the burn ban, open burning, or fire restriction ordinance โ set when you can burn yard waste, debris, or run a recreational fire.
Open burning is generally prohibited statewide under Hawai'i Department of Health air rules (HAR 11-60.1). Narrow exceptions cover cooking, fire training, and legitimate agricultural burning with a state permit. Backyard trash and green-waste burning is not allowed.
The Hawai'i Department of Health Clean Air Branch regulates open burning under HAR Title 11, Chapter 60.1, Subchapter 3, and administers the Agricultural Burning Permit (AGP) program. Open burning is prohibited except for limited uses such as cooking, fire training, and permitted agricultural green-waste burning by bona fide agricultural operations. Permit conditions govern where and when burning may occur, what may be burned, and buffers to protect schools, highways, and airports from smoke. Even permit holders may not burn during a declared no-burn period. On the Big Island, county fire officials also may restrict burning during drought and high wildfire risk.
Illegal open burning is enforced by DOH Clean Air Branch and can bring administrative penalties; agricultural burning during a declared no-burn period is prohibited even with a valid AGP.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
Hawaii County, HI
Hawai'i County has no separate hoarding ordinance; the matter is handled under state cruelty law. Depriving pet animals of necessary sustenance is cruelty in...
Hawaii County, HI
Ordinance No. 25-63 (Bill 51, 2025) makes it illegal to feed feral animals, including cats, chickens, pigs and goats, on County of Hawai'i property, to prote...
Hawaii County, HI
Home composting is allowed and encouraged in Hawai'i County. The county runs green-waste diversion at its transfer stations and recycling programs, but there...
Hawaii County, HI
The County of Hawai'i has no ordinance banning or specifically regulating artificial turf on residential yards. Installation must still meet zoning setbacks,...
Hawaii County, HI
There is no county rule requiring native landscaping, but the Big Island is ground-zero for invasive-species control. Planting or spreading state-listed noxi...
Hawaii County, HI
Rainwater catchment is legal and common on the Big Island โ many Puna and off-grid homes rely on it. The County Department of Water Supply does not recognize...
See how Hawaii County's outdoor burning rules stack up against other locations.
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.