Outdoor burning rules in Windham, CT — also called the burn ban, open burning, or fire restriction ordinance — set when you can burn yard waste, debris, or run a recreational fire.
Connecticut requires permits from the local Open Burning Official for most outdoor burning of brush and vegetative debris, with statewide DEEP oversight. Burning is banned during high or extreme forest fire danger, and household trash burning is prohibited statewide.
Under Connecticut General Statutes Section 22a-174 and Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies Section 22a-174-3, open burning of brush is regulated statewide by DEEP. A municipal Open Burning Official, certified by DEEP, must issue a written permit before brush or vegetative debris may be burned. Permits are issued only when the Forest Fire Danger Index is low or moderate, the area is not within 200 feet of a structure, and conditions allow safe burning. Burning of leaves, grass clippings, garbage, demolition material, tires, or any non-vegetative waste is prohibited statewide. Campfires and recreational fires using clean wood are generally exempt from permitting.
Illegal open burning carries fines up to $1,000 per day plus DEEP enforcement, suppression cost recovery, and potential reckless burning criminal charges.
See how Windham's outdoor burning rules stack up against other locations.
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