Rockingham County, VA Fire Regulations: Outdoor Burning (2026)

Rockingham County adopted the Virginia Statewide Fire Prevention Code as the Rockingham County Fire Prevention Code under Sec. 8-2, and Sec. 8-3 amends several of its sections. 6 lets the local director of emergency services, with the Board of Supervisors' consent, declare a local emergency; if the board cannot convene, the director or any board member may declare it, subject to board confirmation within 14 days. 1 defines that local emergency as a natural disaster such as drought, fire, hurricane, tornado, storm or flood threatening damage, hardship or loss of life or property.

2 makes it unlawful countywide to set fire to woods, brush, logs, leaves, grass, debris or any other flammable material, or to burn outdoors any cooking device, warming fire, campfire, bonfire or recreational fire. This reaches ordinary backyard fire pits and grills fueled by open flame, not just wildland burning, for as long as the declared emergency stays in effect. The fire marshal (Sec. 8). Outside a declared emergency, routine open burning is governed by the balance of the Statewide Fire Prevention Code as amended locally, not by a blanket county ban. This provision applies countywide, including the unincorporated area outside Harrisonburg and the incorporated towns, since chapter 8 is a Board of Supervisors ordinance.