Outdoor burning rules in Galveston County, TX — also called the burn ban, open burning, or fire restriction ordinance — set when you can burn yard waste, debris, or run a recreational fire.
Outdoor burning is allowed in unincorporated Galveston County only when no burn ban is active and only within TCEQ limits. The commissioners court can prohibit outdoor burning during drought or hazardous fire conditions.
Texas outdoor burning is governed by TCEQ rules (30 TAC Ch. 111) plus the county's burn-ban power under Local Government Code 352.081. That statute lets the commissioners court, by order, prohibit or restrict outdoor burning in all or part of the unincorporated county during drought or when dangerous fire conditions exist; such orders last up to 90 days. Galveston County regularly enacts bans during dry spells. Even without a ban, TCEQ prohibits burning trash or bringing off-site waste to burn, and burning must avoid creating a traffic or air hazard. Cities such as Galveston bar most open burning under their own fire codes.
Burning while a county order is in effect is a Class C misdemeanor with a fine up to $500. TCEQ violations carry separate state environmental penalties.
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See how Galveston County's outdoor burning rules stack up against other locations.
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