Old North News

The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality's Division of Air Quality is reminding residents and businesses that burning trash, metal, plastic, and other man-made materials is against state law. This reminder comes during the spring burning season with a clear message: "If it doesn’t grow, don’t burn it." Open burning is allowed only in limited circumstances for vegetative materials like leaves, limbs, and yard debris.

The state's oldest air quality regulation, known as the open burning rule, sets strict limits on what can be burned outdoors and when. Key requirements include that residential yard waste and commercial land clearing burns can only occur between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m., with no new vegetation added after 6 p.m. Burning is permitted only when the air quality forecast is Code Green or Code Yellow; burning on Code Orange, Red or Purple days is prohibited.

Yard waste must originate from a private residence and be burned on-site. The rule allows campfires, outdoor cooking fires, and bonfires unless local ordinances or temporary burn bans prohibit them. Such fires must be controlled and never left unattended.

Following Hurricane Helene's impact in western North Carolina, special provisions are in place through March to help process vegetative disaster debris efficiently. While grinding or chipping wood debris is preferable, guidance for burning debris is available online.

Commercial land clearing operations also fall under these regulations. Land clearing involves uprooting or clearing vegetation related to construction or development projects. The rules specify that kerosene or diesel fuel may start a fire but prohibit burning other man-made materials.

Enforcement of the open burning rule involves partnerships with local law enforcement agencies, firefighters, fire marshals, and the N.C. Forest Service to ensure compliance. Violators face fines up to $25,000 per violation per day.

Careless debris burning remains the leading cause of wildfires in North Carolina. An open-burning permit may be required before certain fires are lit by the N.C Forest Service; however, permits are not issued by the Division of Air Quality itself but are available through an online application at ncforestservice.gov/burnpermit.

Local governments may impose stricter restrictions than state law requires; residents should contact their local officials for more information about specific regulations in their area.

Exceptions exist within the open burning rule for firefighter training exercises and prescribed burns. More details about these exceptions can be found on DEQ’s Open Burning website.

For further information in Spanish or another language assistance call 919-707-8446 or email Shawn.Taylor@deq.nc.gov.