Outdoor burning rules in Rutherford County, TN — also called the burn ban, open burning, or fire restriction ordinance — set when you can burn yard waste, debris, or run a recreational fire.
In Rutherford County you may burn natural wood debris outdoors, but from October 15 through May 15 you must first get a free permit from the Tennessee Department of Agriculture, Division of Forestry. Only leaves, branches, and other natural vegetation may be burned.
Rutherford County follows the statewide debris-burning framework. During fire season (October 15-May 15), a Division of Forestry permit is mandatory before any open burning of wood debris; permits are free and issued by calling 1-877-350-2876 or at BurnSafeTN.org, and are valid only for the day issued. Prohibited materials include tires, shingles, treated wood, construction debris, plastics, and paper; only vegetation grown on-site may be burned. At least one person must stay at the burn the entire time. City residents should check municipal restrictions, which may be stricter.
Air Quality Act violations can bring civil penalties up to $25,000 per day regardless of burn size; burning without a required permit is also a fire-code offense.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
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