Yakima, WA Fire Regulations: Outdoor Burning (2026)
Outdoor burning rules in Yakima, WA, 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
- Governing section
- YMC § 4.16.160
- Banned materials
- Wastepaper, boxes, rubbish, brush, leaves, weeds, cuttings
- Only lawful method
- Fire-dept-approved incinerator with required permit
- Chapter 4.16 penalty
- Fine up to $250 or jail up to 90 days
- Public-land burning
- Misdemeanor, up to $1,000 fine (YMC § 6.56.050)
Summary
Yakima Municipal Code Section 4.16.160 bans burning wastepaper, boxes, rubbish, debris, brush, grass, leaves, weeds, and tree, lawn, shrub or garden cuttings anywhere in the city, allowing it only in incinerators approved under fire control and air pollution control regulations and with any required permit. Violators face the Chapter 4.16 penalty of up to $250 in fines, up to 90 days in jail, or both.
It is unlawful for any person to burn any wastepaper, boxes, rubbish and debris, brush, grass, leaves, weeds and cuttings from trees, lawns, shrubs, and gardens. Burning of said items is only permissible in incinerators approved under fire control and air pollution control regulations and with any required permits. Persons violating this section shall be subject to the penalty outlined in YMC § 4.16.240.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4980636; v1 updated 2026-08-03; through 08-03-2026).
Full Breakdown
160, titled 'Incineration of refuse - Approval of fire department,' traces to Ordinance B-1523 Section 12 from 1953 and was last touched by Ordinance 2020-032 Section 4 in 2020. 240, the chapter's general penalty provision. That penalty is a fine not to exceed $250, imprisonment in the city jail for up to 90 days, or both, unless another Title 4 section says otherwise. 140 instead of burning. 160 carries. 050, and fires allowed under a special event or other city permit presented to law enforcement on demand. 050.
Violations & Fines
Section 4.16.160 violations draw the Chapter 4.16 general penalty at Section 4.16.240: a fine not to exceed $250, imprisonment in the city jail for up to 90 days, or both, upon conviction. Burning on public property instead triggers the separate misdemeanor at Section 6.56.050, punishable by up to 90 days in jail and/or a $1,000 fine. Both are enforced by the City of Yakima and prosecuted through Yakima Municipal Court.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I burn yard waste or brush in my backyard in Yakima?
What happens if I get caught burning trash or yard debris in Yakima?
Is burning on public land in Yakima punished differently than backyard burning?
Does Yakima allow permitted incinerators for burning rubbish?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Yakima
How Yakima compares: Cities with the Strictest Outdoor Burning Rules·Compare Yakima to another location·View the Washington fire regulations overview
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