Provo, UT Fire Regulations: Outdoor Burning (2026)
Outdoor burning rules in Provo, UT, also called the burn ban, open burning, or fire restriction ordinance, set when you can burn yard waste, debris, or run a recreational fire.
Key Facts
- Adopted code
- International Fire Code via Provo City Code 9.51.010
- Local rule
- Provo City Code 9.51.040 (open burnings prohibited)
- Permit + index
- Fire-authority permit and clearing index 500+ (UAC R307-202)
- Allowed materials
- Clippings, bushes, plants, tree prunings only (no trash/tires/oil)
- Hazard closures
- City may ban all ignition sources (UC 15A-5-202.5)
Summary
Provo prohibits open burning under its adopted International Fire Code (Provo City Code 9.51), with narrow exceptions. Where yard-waste burning is allowed, Utah Division of Air Quality rule R307-202 requires a valid permit from the fire authority and a National Weather Service clearing index of 500 or greater.
DAQ rules allow open burning of clippings, bushes, plants, and prunings from trees incident to property and residential clean-up activities, provided that the following conditions have been met: The clearing index issued by the National Weather Service is 500 or greater... An open burn permit application must be completed and a valid permit issued by the county or municipal fire authority prior to burning... no trash, rubbish, tires, or oil are included in the material to be burned, used to start fires, or used to keep fires burning.
Full Breakdown
Provo adopts the International Fire Code by reference in Provo City Code 9.51.010, and Section 9.51.040 prohibits open burning except for limited cases such as small contained cooking fires. For any allowed residential yard-waste burning, the state Division of Air Quality rule (Utah Admin. Code R307-202) controls: a person must obtain a permit from the county or municipal fire authority before burning, may burn only clippings, bushes, plants, and prunings from property and residential clean-up (no trash, rubbish, tires, or oil), and may burn only when the clearing index is 500 or greater. Burning is confined to seasonal windows (generally Sept. 15-Oct. 31 and April 1-May 31 in attainment/nonattainment areas along the Wasatch Front). During declared red-flag or hazardous-condition periods, Utah Code 15A-5-202.5(1)(b) lets the city or state forester close brush-covered and wildland-urban-interface areas to all ignition sources, overriding any burn permit.
Violations & Fines
Open burning without a permit, or burning prohibited materials, violates the adopted International Fire Code (Provo City Code 9.51) and Utah Admin. Code R307-202, exposing the violator to fire-code citation, Division of Air Quality enforcement, and liability/cost recovery for any escaped fire. Burning during a declared closure under 15A-5-202.5 is separately prohibited.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I burn leaves or yard waste in Provo?
What can't I burn?
Can the city stop me from burning even with a permit?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Provo
How Provo compares: Cities with the Strictest Outdoor Burning Rules·Compare Provo to another location·View the Utah fire regulations overview
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Outdoor Burning in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Utah County handle outdoor burning.