Fall Leaf Burning & Outdoor Burning Laws by State (2026)

Most Restrictive

1. 1
   Clovis, 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.

2. 2
   Dallas 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.

3. 3
   Sioux 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.

4. 4
   Acworth, 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.

5. 5
   Alameda 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.

6. 6
   Erie, PA

   Burning garbage, recyclable materials, leaf waste, or grass clippings is unlawful in the City of Erie at all times under Quality of Life ordinance item QOL-31. Open burning is also prohibited whenever atmospheric conditions make fires hazardous or winds gust to or are sustained at 10 mph. Because the City of Erie lies within the state-designated Erie air basin (25 Pa. Code 121.1), stricter air-quality burning limits apply.

7. 7
   Allegheny 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.

8. 8
   Jupiter, 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.

9. 9
   Ulster 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.

10. 10
    Colonie, 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.