THURSTON COUNTY BURN INFORMATION

Fire Safety Burn Ban is in Effect

Smoke, from any source, creates problems in human lungs. For that reason, and more, Clean Air Laws regulate air pollution as found in smoke. Thurston County’s burn restrictions are regulated by Olympic Region Clean Air Agency (ORCAA). Outdoor burning in various forms is allowed in some jurisdictions, but a burn permit may be required to legally burn.

Residential Outdoor Burning – Allowed in Rural Thurston County with a Burn Permit

For THURSTON COUNTY ADDRESSES ONLY (Does not apply to City or Urban Growth Areas UGA):

Residential burning is the outdoor burning of leaves, clippings, prunings and other yard and gardening refuse originating on the maintained area of residential property (e.g. lands immediately adjacent and in close proximity to a human dwelling) and burned on such lands by the property owner and/or another responsible person. Pile Size Limitations: Permits for fires up to 10′ x 10′ for non-land-clearing burns.

To obtain an electronic burn permit, click here.

To learn more about Outdoor Burning, visit ORCAA.ORG.

Recreational Fires

For THURSTON COUNTY ADDRESSES ONLY (Does not apply to City or Urban Growth Areas UGA): The use of charcoal briquettes, gas, and propane barbeques, as well as recreational fires on private residential properties are allowed.

Recreational fires must be contained in approved concrete, stone or metal pits like those commonly found in campgrounds. The size of recreational fires is limited by State regulations (WAC 173-425-060) to no more than three (3) feet in diameter and/or two (2) feet in height, with only charcoal or firewood being burned.

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FOR CITY OF OLYMPIA & URBAN GROWTH AREAS ONLY:

Outdoor burning — including recreational fires — is prohibited within Olympia city limits and Urban Growth Areas (Effective January 1, 2007, state law prohibited burning in Cities designated Urban Growth Areas (UGA) within the state.) The exception is the use charcoal briquettes, natural gas, or propane appliances.

DETERMINING YOUR BURN RULES

To determine if you reside in a No Burn Area, visit Thurston County Geo-Data Center and enter your address to receive parcel information. Under the “Zoning” section, if the “Permitting Jurisdiction” or “Jurisdiction of Influence” is a city or UGA, Residential Yard-waste Burning is PROHIBITED.

Not Allowed within the City of Olympia, and UGAs:

Campfires
Chimineas
Cooking devices using wood, or wood pellets, as the fuel for the fire
Land clearing burns
Residential burning (e.g. small piles of brush or debris)
Burn barrels
Any natural vegetation or wood burning