Leaf Burning & Outdoor Burning Laws by State (2026)
Where Is Open Burning Legal?
Find the rules for your area:
See which states and cities allow leaf burning, yard waste burning, and bonfires. Compare burn permit requirements and seasonal ban periods.
The table below breaks down the rules across 50 states and 730 cities and counties. Every entry is based on the actual municipal code for that location, not a guess or a generic template. Click any location to see the full ordinance details, including fines, exceptions, and local FAQs.
Rules by State
Each state is colored by the most common local rule. Click a state to see the cities and counties we cover there.
| State | Locations | Strict | Moderate | Permissive | Overall |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | 138 | 130 | 8 | - | Heavy Restrictions |
| Texas | 77 | 61 | 16 | - | Heavy Restrictions |
| Florida | 61 | 48 | 13 | - | Heavy Restrictions |
| New Jersey | 33 | 30 | 3 | - | Heavy Restrictions |
| Massachusetts | 33 | 16 | 17 | - | Some Restrictions |
| New York | 32 | 31 | 1 | - | Heavy Restrictions |
| Wisconsin | 29 | 1 | 28 | - | Some Restrictions |
| Illinois | 26 | 16 | 10 | - | Heavy Restrictions |
| Georgia | 22 | 12 | 10 | - | Heavy Restrictions |
| Washington | 19 | 18 | 1 | - | Heavy Restrictions |
| Colorado | 19 | 12 | 7 | - | Heavy Restrictions |
| Arizona | 18 | 16 | 2 | - | Heavy Restrictions |
| Pennsylvania | 17 | 14 | 3 | - | Heavy Restrictions |
| Ohio | 15 | 14 | 1 | - | Heavy Restrictions |
| North Carolina | 14 | 10 | 4 | - | Heavy Restrictions |
| Utah | 13 | 7 | 6 | - | Heavy Restrictions |
| Virginia | 12 | 7 | 5 | - | Heavy Restrictions |
| Michigan | 12 | 10 | 2 | - | Heavy Restrictions |
| Hawaii | 12 | 10 | 2 | - | Heavy Restrictions |
| Oklahoma | 11 | 6 | 5 | - | Heavy Restrictions |
| Oregon | 11 | 8 | 3 | - | Heavy Restrictions |
| Maryland | 9 | 5 | 4 | - | Heavy Restrictions |
| Alabama | 8 | 6 | 2 | - | Heavy Restrictions |
| Nevada | 7 | 6 | 1 | - | Heavy Restrictions |
| Tennessee | 7 | 2 | 5 | - | Some Restrictions |
| Mississippi | 6 | 1 | 5 | - | Some Restrictions |
| Missouri | 5 | 1 | 4 | - | Some Restrictions |
| Rhode Island | 5 | 5 | - | - | Heavy Restrictions |
| Minnesota | 5 | 2 | 3 | - | Some Restrictions |
| Kansas | 5 | 3 | 2 | - | Heavy Restrictions |
| Connecticut | 5 | 2 | 3 | - | Some Restrictions |
| Iowa | 4 | 3 | 1 | - | Heavy Restrictions |
| Louisiana | 4 | - | 4 | - | Some Restrictions |
| South Carolina | 4 | 3 | 1 | - | Heavy Restrictions |
| Indiana | 4 | 1 | 3 | - | Some Restrictions |
| New Mexico | 4 | 4 | - | - | Heavy Restrictions |
| Arkansas | 3 | 3 | - | - | Heavy Restrictions |
| Kentucky | 3 | 3 | - | - | Heavy Restrictions |
| North Dakota | 3 | - | 3 | - | Some Restrictions |
| Nebraska | 3 | 1 | 2 | - | Some Restrictions |
| District of Columbia | 2 | 2 | - | - | Heavy Restrictions |
| Delaware | 2 | - | 2 | - | Some Restrictions |
| Idaho | 1 | 1 | - | - | Heavy Restrictions |
| Alaska | 1 | 1 | - | - | Heavy Restrictions |
| Vermont | 1 | 1 | - | - | Heavy Restrictions |
| Montana | 1 | - | 1 | - | Some Restrictions |
| New Hampshire | 1 | - | 1 | - | Some Restrictions |
| Wyoming | 1 | - | 1 | - | Some Restrictions |
| West Virginia | 1 | 1 | - | - | Heavy Restrictions |
| South Dakota | 1 | 1 | - | - | Heavy Restrictions |
How Cities Compare
These rankings are based on verified municipal code data, not opinion. A "strict" rating means the city has heavy restrictions, high fines, or outright bans. "Permissive" means few or no local restrictions beyond state law.
Most Restrictive
- 1Clovis, CA
Open burning of vegetation and yard waste is banned in Clovis under San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District Rule 4103. Residents must use green waste bins. Recreational fires exempt when in approved devices.
- 2Contra Costa County, CAConFire (CCCFPD) fire marshal
Open burning is prohibited in unincorporated Contra Costa County except under a narrow set of agricultural or hazard-reduction permits. Residential yard waste burning is banned year-round under BAAQMD Regulation 5, and wood smoke advisories add further restrictions during winter Spare the Air alerts.
- 3Dallas County, TXDaily approval from Fire Marshal
TCEQ 30 TAC Chapter 111 Subchapter B governs outdoor burning statewide. Dallas County Fire Marshal requires daily burn approval. Must be 300 ft from residences. Burning restricted to sunrise-sunset, wind under 15 mph. DFW ozone nonattainment area adds air quality restrictions.
- 4Sioux City, IAYes — Fire Rescue, $20/day
Open burning inside Sioux City requires a Fire Rescue permit costing $20.00 per day or $30.00 for two consecutive days. Permits cover landscape waste like twigs and branches only — leaves and grass clippings cannot be burned at any time. Recreational fires in commercial fire pits and chimineas are exempt from the permit but must follow strict siting rules. Iowa DNR open-burning rules at 567 IAC 23.2 backstop city authority, and all burning is suspended during any Iowa State Fire Marshal or Woodbury County burn ban. Fire Rescue contact: 712-279-6377.
- 5Acworth, GACobb County Fire: 770-528-8310
Cobb County Fire enforces outdoor burning rules in Acworth — Oct 1–Apr 30; 10 AM to 1 hour before sunset; small piles (<6x6 ft) no permit; larger piles permit required. Violations: $100–$1,000 fine.
- 6Alameda County, CACAL FIRE PRC 4423
Outdoor open burning is essentially prohibited in Alameda County under BAAQMD Regulation 5 Rules 3 and 6. Agricultural and prescribed burns require district permits and are limited to designated burn days. Residential yard waste burning is not allowed.
- 7Allegheny County, PAUp to $2,500/day
Allegheny County Health Department Article XXI strictly limits open burning due to federal PM2.5 non-attainment status. Open burning of leaves, yard waste, construction debris, and trash is prohibited countywide. Only small recreational/cooking fires with clean wood are allowed.
- 8Jupiter, FLCommon Feb to May
Open burning of yard waste, trash, and debris is prohibited within Jupiter town limits. Only recreational cooking fires and approved land-clearing burns with a Florida Forest Service authorization are allowed, and burn bans frequently override these during dry season.
- 9Ulster County, NYMarch 16 – May 14
NY DEC Part 215 prohibits residential brush burning statewide from March 16 through May 14 each year. Trash burning (leaves, garbage, household waste) is illegal year-round. Minimum $500 fine for first offense.
- 10Colonie, NYMarch 16 - May 14 (statewide)
Outdoor burning in the Town of Colonie is governed by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation regulation at 6 NYCRR Part 215 (Open Fires), the New York State Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code (19 NYCRR Part 1219, adopting IFC Section 307), and the Town's nuisance and property-maintenance provisions. Part 215 prohibits open burning of refuse statewide year-round and imposes an annual residential brush burn ban from March 16 through May 14. Only small recreational fires under IFC Section 307.4 (3-foot diameter, 2-foot height, attended, seasoned wood) and cooking on residential grills are routinely allowed outside that window.
All 730 Locations
Every city and county below has verified ordinance data for this topic. Click any location for the full breakdown including fines, exceptions, and local FAQs.
Frequently Asked Questions
These questions come from the most common things people ask about this topic across different cities.