Outdoor Residential Burning is allowed from October 16th thru July 14th. Burning will not be permitted from July 15th through October 15th or during a burn curtailment. A permit is required for Residential Outdoor Burning and must be posted on the site.

Outdoor burning is allowed in the unincorporated areas of Thurston County outside the Urban Growth Management area boundaries of Lacey, Olympia and Tumwater.

1. How do I know if my fire needs a Burn Permit?.
2. Is there a cost for a Burn Permit?.
3. What can I burn?
4. When is burning allowed?
5. What rules must I follow?
6. What alternatives are there to burning yard debris?
7. How do I get a Burn Permit?

1. How do I know if my fire needs a Burn Permit?
   Burn Permits are required for any residential burning except recreational fires which are limited to 4'x4' in size.  Permits for fires up to 10'x10' by 5' high can be obtained from the fire department.
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2. Is there a cost for a Burn Permit?
   Burn Permits are free of charge.
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3. What can I burn?
   Only natural vegetation grown on the site.
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4. When is burning allowed?
   Burning is allowed from October 16th thru July 14th except during periods of impaired air quality or when burn curtailments are in effect.
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5. What rules must I follow?
   
   • Burning may only occur during daylight hours.
   • If winds exceed 5 mph fires shall not be lighted.
   • If winds exceed 10 mph, fires must be extinguished.
   • Burn pile must not exceed 10 feet by 10 feet by 5 feet in height.
   • The burn pile must be no closer than 50 feet from any structure or standing timber or 10 feet from a property line.
   • Fires are not permitted within five hundred (500) feet of forest slash.
   • Fires must be attended until completely out - NO FLAME, NO SMOKE
   • Only one residential outdoor fire may be burned at any one time.
   • A shovel and water-charged hose shall be on site and immediately available.  A minimum of two five-gallon buckets full of water may substitute for the water-charged hose.
   • Fires shall not be allowed during periods of impaired air quality or when burn curtailments are in effect.  Before starting any outdoor fire, call Olympic Region Clean Air Agency at (360) 786-5447 for recorded information.  
   • Fires must be immediately extinguished, if any emission from the fire is detrimental to the health, safety, or welfare of any person, if it causes damage to property or business, or it it causes a nuisance to others. 
   • Burn barrels are not permitted. 
   • Alternatives to Residential Outdoor Burning are encouraged.
   • Applicant is responsible to ensure compliance with all local, state and federal laws while conducting burning pursuant to the permit.  
   
   

   PROHIBITED MATERIALS:

   It is against state law for any person to allow any outdoor fire that contains any of the following:

   • Household garbage or trash (including cardboard or paper - other than what is necessary to start the fire.
   • Dead animals
   • Asphalt
   • Petroleum products
   • Paints
   • Rubber products
   • Plastics
   • Treated wood
   • Construction/demolition debris
   • Metal
   • Any other substance, which normally emits dense smoke or noxious odors when burned.
   
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6. What alternatives are there to burning yard debris?
    
   

   Curbside yard waste collection - call your garbage/recycling provider to see if collection of yard waste is available

   Mobile chip and grind program - Drop off woody yard debris for free at bi-monthly events.  Only woody material 15" in diameter or less (no stumps excepted).  Program runs March through Junes and September through November.  Call for dates.  (360) 740-6800.

   Call Thurston County Solid Waste at (360) 754-2953 for more information on the following programs:

   • Neighborhood Chipping Days
     Get four or more neighborhood households together and sign up for 2 free hours of chipping.  Branches and brush 6" in diameter and less are accepted.  You keep the chips!  Program runs April through October.
   • Haul to the Compost Center at the Waste and Recovery Center.
     Call Water and Waste Management for more information.
   • Backyard composting-bins and workshops available.
     Get instructions to make your own compost bin, buy a reduced-rate compost bin, and learn the do's and don'ts of home composting at workshops.  Call for workshop dates.
   
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7. How do I get a Burn Permit?
   Burn Permits are available at District fire stations or through our web site. For an on-line burn permit, click here. Burn Permits are no longer a two-copy document; the applicant shall sign the form and keep the signed copy at the burn-site whenever burning takes place.  
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