Marion County, FL Fire Regulations: Outdoor Burning (2026)
Outdoor burning rules in Marion County, FL, 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
- County Code
- Marion County Code Sec. 8-35
- State Law
- Fla. Stat. 590.125; Fla. Admin. Code 5I-2.006
- Pile limit
- 8 ft diameter; after 9 a.m., out 1 hr before sunset
- Setbacks
- 25 ft wildlands, 50 ft paved road, 150 ft buildings
- Contact
- Marion County Fire Rescue, 352-291-8000
Summary
In unincorporated Marion County, yard-waste open burning is allowed without Marion County Fire Rescue approval only if the fire starts after 9:00 a.m., is out one hour before sunset, stays in a pile no more than 8 feet across, and meets state setbacks. Agricultural and land-clearing burns require Florida Forest Service authorization.
590.125 Open burning authorized by the Florida Forest Service. (2) NONCERTIFIED BURNING. (a) Persons may be authorized to broadcast burn or pile burn pursuant to this subsection if: 1. There is specific consent of the landowner or his or her designee; 2. Authorization has been obtained from the Florida Forest Service or its designated agent before starting the burn; 3. There are adequate firebreaks at the burn site and sufficient personnel and firefighting equipment for the containment of the fire; 4. The fire remains within the boundary of the authorized area; 5. The person named responsible in the burn authorization or a designee is present at the burn site until the fire is completed; 6. The Florida Forest Service does not cancel the authorization; and 7. The Florida Forest Service determines that air quality and fire danger are favorable for safe burning. (d) A person who broadcast burns or pile burns in a manner that violates this subsection commits a misdemeanor of the second degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.
Full Breakdown
The Florida Forest Service (FFS) has statewide authority over open burning under Fla. Stat. 125. Under that statute, broadcast or pile burning generally requires an FFS authorization, adequate firebreaks, sufficient personnel and equipment, and the responsible person present until the fire is completed. Marion County Code Sec. m. Eastern, extinguished no later than one hour before sunset, not conducted in windy conditions, confined to a noncombustible container or a pile no greater than eight feet in diameter on cleared ground, and set back at least 25 feet from wildlands/brush/combustible structures, 50 feet from a paved public roadway, and 150 feet from any building not owned or leased by the person burning.
Trash and paper products may never be burned, and the fire must not create a smoke, soot, odor, heat, or flame nuisance, with MCFR having the final say on what is a nuisance.
Violations & Fines
Burning that violates the FFS authorization rules is a second-degree misdemeanor under Fla. Stat. 590.125(2)(d), punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083. The person who starts a fire is also liable for suppression costs and damages if it escapes; county code violations are enforced by MCFR / code enforcement.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to burn yard waste in unincorporated Marion County?
Can I burn household trash or paper in Marion County?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Marion County
How Marion County compares: Cities with the Strictest Outdoor Burning Rules·Florida rules heatmap·Compare Marion County to another location·View the Florida fire regulations overview
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