Cities with the Strictest Outdoor Burning Rules (2026)

Top 25: Tightest Bans

Locations are sorted by the severity rating assigned when each row was authored from the city's code, with ties broken alphabetically by name. For this topic, "strict" means open burning is prohibited citywide with few or no exceptions and violations are charged as offenses. "Permissive" means burning is allowed by permit or within a season, with limits on what may be burned.

1. 1

   Acworth, GAHeavy RestrictionsFireworks separately banned under § 46-2

   Acworth bans bonfires of any kind within city limits at any time unless the board of aldermen has designated and approved the specific site, and the county fire chief or a designee has separately signed off. There is no individual homeowner permit path, so a backyard bonfire or open burn pile is unlawful regardless of lot size.

2. 2

   Adams County, COHeavy Restrictions

   Open fires, including campfires, are unlawful across every Adams County park, trail and open space area under Resolution 2022-649. Charcoal fires are allowed only in provided picnic grills, propane grills and gas generators are permitted if placed on a protective base, and any fire that endangers people or damages natural resources violates the rule regardless of permission.

3. 3

   Akron, OHHeavy RestrictionsProhibited for trash, leaves, yard waste

   Akron prohibits open burning of trash, leaves, and yard waste within city limits. Recreational fires are allowed under Ohio Fire Code conditions. The city follows Ohio EPA open burning regulations, which restrict burning in urban areas.

4. 4

   Albuquerque, NMHeavy RestrictionsOpen burning prohibited except as allowed

   Albuquerque Fire Code Section 307.1 prohibits open burning, recreational fires, bonfires, rubbish fires and open-burning operations except as allowed by the Albuquerque-Bernalillo County Air Quality Control Board and the Fire Code. Limited dead-and-dry weed removal is allowed without a permit if it meets strict setback, pile-size, wind, and time-of-day conditions.

5. 5

   Allentown, PAHeavy Restrictions

   Allentown lies inside the state-designated 'Allentown, Bethlehem, Easton air basin' (25 Pa. Code 121.1), where 25 Pa. Code 129.14 prohibits open burning of material outright. Narrow exceptions exist for cooking food and for fires set solely for recreational or ceremonial purposes, but burning trash, leaves, and yard waste is unlawful. The City layers its own permit-and-inspection requirements on top of the state ban.

6. 6

   Anaheim, CAHeavy Restrictionsoutdoor burning is a nuisance without Fire Marshal authorization

   Anaheim declares any intentional outdoor burning of material, structure, matter or thing a public nuisance unless the Anaheim Fire Marshal specifically authorizes it. There is no self-permitting exception; every open burn needs sign-off first.

7. 7

   Arlington, TXHeavy Restrictions$1,000 for authorized burns

   Arlington bans most outdoor burning within city limits. Authorized burns require a $1,000 permit and Fire Prevention inspection. Wind speed must be 5–16 mph, relative humidity above 35%, and burning during daylight only. No burning on ozone alert days.

8. 8

   Arlington Heights, ILHeavy Restrictions$5-$750 per offense (§19-701b)

   Arlington Heights, Illinois (Cook County) declares the burning of leaves, solid waste, or the maintenance of any bonfire within Village limits a public nuisance under Section 19-204, and makes it unlawful to cause or knowingly permit that burning. A related smoke and particulate ban targets any fire, chimney, engine or oil burner emission that endangers public health or comfort.

9. 9

   Atlanta, GAHeavy RestrictionsUp to $1,000 fine, 6 months jail

   Atlanta prohibits burning construction debris, stump and land-clearing debris, and virtually all other outdoor fires within city limits. Only cooking fires and recreational fire pits are exempt under the Fire Prevention Code's operational-permit rules.

10. 10

    Atlantic County, NJHeavy RestrictionsGenerally prohibited

    Open burning is generally prohibited across Atlantic County under N.J.A.C. 7:27-2.3. No one may dispose of refuse, fallen leaves, or plant material by open burning. Only contained recreational and cooking fires are allowed.

11. 11

    Bellevue, WAHeavy Restrictions

    Open burning is banned at all times in Bellevue under a permanent Puget Sound Clean Air Agency ban dating to September 1992, with narrow exceptions for bonfires, recreational fires and portable outdoor fireplaces. Additional burn bans for air quality or fire danger suspend even those exceptions.

12. 12

    Bernalillo County, NMHeavy RestrictionsDry weed piles within limits

    Bernalillo County Fire & Rescue regulates open burning in unincorporated areas. Dry weed piles max 3 ft diameter x 2 inches high allowed without permit. Burn hours 10 AM to 3 PM. Must call Open Burning Hotline (505) 468-7200 before burning. No burning of leaves, grass clippings, refuse, or waste.

13. 13

    Birmingham, ALHeavy RestrictionsJCDH Air Pollution Control Rules, Chapter 5

    Birmingham is in Jefferson County, where the County Board of Health bans open outdoor burning from April through October every year, except fires used for food preparation. The ban exists because many small fires significantly worsen the area's air quality. From November through March, burning is allowed only with a JCDH authorization that imposes strict location and equipment rules, and state law separately requires an Alabama Forestry Commission permit for larger woodland or grassland burns.

14. 14

    Boston, MAHeavy RestrictionsBanned year-round

    Open burning is banned year-round in Boston. The city is one of approximately 40 MA municipalities where the statewide seasonal open burning period does not apply.

15. 15

    Boulder, COHeavy Restrictions

    Boulder bans open burning of trash, brush, and wood citywide. Fire Code § 307(1), reenacted at BRC 10-8-2(b)(13), makes it unlawful to kindle or maintain any bonfire or burn trash, paper, wood, weeds, brush, or other combustible material outside a habitable building or a code-built exterior fireplace anywhere within city limits or on city property beyond them, with only four narrow, clearly defined exceptions.

16. 16

    Brockton, MAHeavy RestrictionsRequired from Fire Department

    Open burning in Brockton is regulated by the Massachusetts DEP and the Brockton Fire Department. Residential open burning is only permitted during a limited season (January 15 to May 1) with a fire permit.

17. 17

    Broken Arrow, OKHeavy Restrictions

    Broken Arrow bans open burning of refuse or trade waste citywide; only pre-approved agricultural, silvicultural, or recreational fires with prior written approval are allowed under Chapter 3.

18. 18

    Broome County, NYHeavy Restrictions$500+ per violation

    New York State imposes an annual residential brush-burning prohibition from March 16 through May 14, which applies to Broome County. Outside that window, Broome County regulates outdoor burning under its Code Article V §305-22 and NYS DEC's open-burning rules (6 NYCRR Part 215), which permanently ban burning trash, leaves, and treated wood statewide.

19. 19

    Burbank, CAHeavy RestrictionsYes - from the Fire Code Official, limited purposes only

    Open burning is prohibited in Burbank except by permit from the Fire Code Official for a short list of purposes. Burbank Municipal Code 9-1-9-307.1.1.1 (a local amendment adding to the adopted California Fire Code) authorizes open-burning permits only for fire-hazard abatement, city lot-burning crews, fire-fighting instruction, and certain sponsored gatherings, and all permits must comply with South Coast Air Quality Management District rules.

20. 20

    Camarillo, CAHeavy RestrictionsUp to $1,000 fine, 6 months jail

    Camarillo bans burning solid waste, hazardous waste, or medical waste anywhere in the city under Municipal Code Section 9.04.110. There is no permit path around it: the prohibition is absolute, and the city's solid waste officer and code enforcement officers cite violators under the general Title 1 penalty scheme.

21. 21

    Cambridge, MAHeavy RestrictionsBurning leaves or refuse strictly prohibited citywide

    Cambridge bans burning leaves and other refuse outright. Section 8.24.150 of the Municipal Code states the burning of leaves and other refuse is strictly prohibited, with no permit path or seasonal exception written into the ordinance, and Section 8.24.260 backs it with a fine of up to three hundred dollars per day.

22. 22

    Canal Winchester, OHHeavy RestrictionsProhibited

    Open burning of leaves, yard waste, and trash is prohibited in Canal Winchester under Ohio EPA rule OAC 3745-19-03. The city lies within a restricted urban area where open burning is largely banned.

23. 23

    Carlsbad, CAHeavy Restrictions$50 to $100

    Burning trash or refuse anywhere in Carlsbad, on public or private property and with or without the owner's permission, is unlawful under Municipal Code Section 6.08.100, except at an authorized solid waste facility. Violators face the same escalating $50-to-$500 administrative penalty schedule the city uses for every other Chapter 6.08 offense.

24. 24

    Centennial, COHeavy Restrictions

    Centennial prohibits burning of trash, rubbish, construction materials, yard debris, leaves, or recyclable materials at all times. Recreational fires in approved fire pits (no larger than 3 ft diameter, 2 ft flame height) are permitted when no burn ban is in effect. Arapahoe County manages burn ban enforcement.

25. 25

    Chandler, AZHeavy RestrictionsMCAQD Rule 314

    Outdoor burning is heavily restricted in Chandler under Maricopa County Air Quality Department rules. Wood-burning fire pits, chimineas, and yard waste burning are prohibited on designated no-burn days. MCAQD Rule 314 governs open burning.

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