Only natural vegetation (leaves, grass and tree trimmings) may be burned. It is never legal to burn any of the following:
- Garbage
- Household trash
- Tires
- Lumber
- Building construction waste
- Demolition debris
Outdoor Burning Information
Planning and Development
Do I need a burn permit?
You may need a burn permit. Review the information below:
Recreational fires are those used for cooking and pleasure, using only charcoal or seasoned firewood, do not require a burn permit but must meet the following requirements:
- Fires are allowed only within enclosures AT LEAST 14 inches high, no wider than 3 feet, and constructed of cement blocks, stones, or #10-gauge steel.
- Burning materials must be kept BELOW the enclosure's top.
- ALWAYS have a charged garden hose or two 5-gallon buckets of water available.
- Portable outdoor fire pits shall not be operated within 15 feet of a structure or of combustible materials.
- Recreational fires MUST BE 25 feet away from combustibles, standing timber, or overhanging tree branches.
- Someone 16 years old or older must ALWAYS be present to monitor and/or extinguish any fire.
- Always check for any additional burning restrictions before starting an outdoor fire.
Residential fires consist of yard and garden debris that is generated onsite. A residential burn permit is required:
- The pile must not exceed 10 feet across x 10 feet in height.
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Burning is allowed during daylight hours only.
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A shovel and rake must be on site.
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For fires less than 4 feet in diameter, you must have a charged garden hose that can reach the fire or 10-gallons of water and a bucket.
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For fires 4-10 feet in diameter, you must have a charged garden hose that can reach the fire or a 55 -gallon water source with a pump and enough hose to reach the fire.
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One person age 16 or older, who is capable of putting the fire out, must be in attendance at all times and must have a method to call 911, if needed.
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Fire must not create a nuisance.
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Fire must be 50 feet away from any structure, standing timber, or power lines.
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All fires must be contained within a firebreak (bare ground). The firebreak must be equal the size of the pile.
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Only one pile may be burned at a time.
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Landowner permission is required if the fire is not on your property.
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It must not be an air stagnation period.
Contact Dispatch before starting the burn at 360-428-3211
Commercial Burning/Land Clearing
Commercial burning also referred to as land clearing require a burn permit and must only contain natural vegetation generated from onsite land clearing projects. A commercial burn permit must meet the following requirements:
- Pile size must not exceed 25 feet x 25 feet. A fan must be used to start the fire and assist in burning.
- A shovel and rake must be on site.
- A 350-gallon water source with a pump and enough 1-1/2-inch hose to reach the entire fire must be onsite.
- One person age 16 or older, who is capable of putting the fire out, must be in attendance at all times and must have a method to call 911, if needed.
- Burning is allowed 24-hours a day if permitted by local jurisdiction and attended at all times.
- Fire must not create a nuisance.
- Fire must be 50 feet away from any structure, standing timber, or power lines.
- All fires must be contained within a firebreak (bare ground). The firebreak must be equal the size of the pile.
- Only one pile may be burned at a time.
- Landowner permission is required if the fire is not on your property.
- An excavator with an operator is onsite at all times during the burning.
Contact Dispatch before starting the burn at 360-428-3211
When do I need a permit from DNR and not Skagit County?
Silvicultural Fires are forestry burns in which the land is to remain forest and is not being cleared for other uses.
These burns typically contain logging slash following a logging operation.
To obtain a permit through DNR contact: Phone: 800-323-BURN or https://dnr.wa.gov/wildfire-resources/outdoor-burning/burn-permits
Avoid Unnecessary Burning
Before starting an outdoor burn of any type, please consider the potential impacts on your neighbors and on local emergency responders, and postpone or cancel your burn if possible.
An eco-friendly alternative to burning your yard waste is to drop it off for composting at these locations:
North Hill Resources
651 North Hill Boulevard
Burlington, WA 98233
360-757-1866
Skagit Soils Inc
13260 Ball Road
Mount Vernon
360-424-0199
Sunland Bark & Topsoils
12469 Reservation Road
Anacortes
360-293-7188
Skagit Aggregates (Big Rock)
14107 State Route 9
Mount Vernon, WA 98273
360-826-3077
Many types of construction waste (wood, concrete, drywall, asphalt, roofing, metals), can be recycled at these locations. Check each facility for the types of debris accepted.
Lautenbach Recycling
13084 Ball Road
Mount Vernon
360-757-4000
North Hill Resources
651 North Hill Boulevard
Burlington, WA 98233
360-757-1866
Skagit Aggregates (Big Rock)
14107 State Route 9
Mount Vernon, WA 98273
360-826-3077
Proper Use of Woodstoves
About half of all homes in northwest Washington have some type of wood-heating device. During the winter, wood smoke can account for most of the air pollution recorded in residential areas. And studies show that when air quality is poor outside, it can seep into buildings and become as bad or worse indoors, even in homes that aren’t heating with wood.
Wood smoke is a health risk because it consists of tiny particles that can be inhaled deeply into the lungs. Particle pollution is linked to a number of health problems, including coughing, wheezing, reduced lung function, asthma attacks, heart attacks, and strokes. It also is linked to early death. Young children, the elderly and people with heart or respiratory illness are most susceptible to health risks from wood smoke.
In order to help reduce these health risks, all wood-heating appliances sold in Washington must be certified to meet Washington state emission limits.
Burn only dry, clean, untreated wood or manufactured logs.
It is illegal to burn anything else, such as garbage. Paper is legal only for starting a fire. Firewood should be dried under cover for up to a year before burning.
Give your fire plenty of air.
Be sure not to overload the stove or reduce airflow by closing the damper. Small, hot fires burn cleaner, produce more heat and can use less wood.
Check your chimney about 20 minutes after starting your fire.
Lots of smoke means your fire needs air. An efficient, legal fire emits heat waves and just a wisp of smoke. Be considerate — don’t smoke out your neighbors.
Buying and Installing Wood Heating Applicances
Buying
If you are considering a woodstove or fireplace insert for your home, or you are planning to upgrade your old woodstove, take a few minutes to determine which device is best for you. NW Clean Air Agency has a video addressing the subject. A Quick Guide on how to Buy a Wood Stove for Home Heating
Installation
It is illegal to sell, install or give away a wood heating appliance or factory-built fireplace that is not certified to meet Washington state air emission standards.
All state certified stoves are also certified by the U.S. EPA, but not the other way around – U.S. certification alone doesn’t mean the stove is state certified. Your stove is U.S. certified if it has a plate with a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency label. Look for the EPA plate on the back or side of the stove.
If you are planning to heat your home with a wood fire, it is important to understand the requirements.
Here’s a summary of what you need to know:
WHAT ARE THE REQUIREMENTS FOR WOOD HEATING DEVICES?
All wood heating appliances and factory-built fireplaces sold or installed in Washington must meet Washington emission standards. Washington state law has established limits of 4.5 grams of particles per hour for non-catalytic models and 2.5 grams per hour for catalytic models.
HOW DO I KNOW IF THE SMOKE FROM MY CHIMNEY IS LEGAL?
State law limits the density of chimney smoke — referred to as opacity — to 20 percent. Zero opacity means no smoke and 100 percent opacity means the smoke is so thick you can’t see through it.
WHAT CAN I BURN?
Burn only dry, clean and untreated wood or manufactured logs. Paper is legal only for starting the fire. It is illegal to burn anything else.
WHEN IS MY FIREWOOD DRY ENOUGH?
State rules limit the moisture content of firewood to 20 percent. You can check the moisture content with a moisture meter, available for purchase at most hardware and home improvement stores. Another way to check is to hit two pieces together. If you hear a hollow cracking sound, the wood is dry enough. Firewood should be dried under cover for a year before before burning.
WHEN IS WOOD BURNING ENFORCEABLE BY LAW?
If your fire is too smoky, based on the 20 percent opacity limit, or if you violate an active burn ban.
