Frequently Asked Questions

1. Do I need a permit?

That depends on what type of burning you are doing.

If you are burning for agricultural purposes, you will need a permit to burn any open field, harvest debris, or orchard trees being taken out of production.

Land clearing burning also requires a burning permit. Land clearing burning means outdoor burning of trees, stumps, shrubbery, or other natural vegetation from projects that clear the land surface so it can be developed, used for a non-agricultural purpose, or left unused.

Other types of burning, such as fire training or habitat enhancement, may require a special permit. For questions on permit requirements in Chelan, Kittitas, Klickitat, Okanogan and Douglas counties contact the Department of Ecology's Central Regional Office at (509) 454-7899.

For Adams, Asotin, Columbia, Ferry, Garfield, Grant, Ferry, Stevens, Pend Oreille, Walla Walla and Whitman counties contact the Department of Ecology's Eastern Regional Office at (509) 329-3400.

For all other counties select here.

2. When can I burn?

If you are burning for agricultural purposes, and have an agricultural burn permit (orchard tear out or field), you must burn on a designated burn day. You must call 1-800-406-5322 prior to burning. If the message for your area states that it is a no-burn day, you may not legally burn. You must have an "OK" from Ecology and your fire safety authority. If the message says it is a burn day, you must still comply with your local fire protection agency's decision if it determines it is a no-burn day. Compliance with burn bans put into effect by another department/county/city is a specific condition of the permit. The grower and local fire department are responsible for fire safety.

3. Can I burn my yard waste?

Do you live in an Urban Growth Area (UGA)?

Residential and land clearing burning is not allowed in UGAs in cities with a population of 10,000 or more. The only outdoor burning allowed in UGAs is for the disposal of tumble weeds blown by the wind, and recreational fires. Fires used for debris disposal are not considered recreational fires. Agricultural burning can be allowed in UGAs. To find out if out if you live in a UGA, please contact your local planning department before burning. Local permits or restrictions might apply where you live. Please contact your city or county before burning.

Select here for maps of UGAs.

If you are nonagricultural, you can burn if you are outside an urban growth area. The pile may be no bigger than 4'x4'x3'.

Always contact your local fire department.

4. How do I get publications?

You can download them off the internet or contact The Department of Ecology. Select this to go to Ecology's online publication index.

5. What is my alternative to burning, and is Ecology doing anything to promote alternatives?

For Local Recycling Facilities, select here.

For information on agricultural burning Grants and Research, select here.

6. Who do I contact about a possible air quality problem in my neighborhood?

Visit our smoke complaint page.

7. Why is there a fee for agricultural burning permits?

When members of the Washington State Legislature passed the Clean Air Washington Act in 1991, they included specific references to agricultural burning and fees that would be charged to farmers who burn on their land. Specifically, the law says:

The fee will cover the costs of the permitting program.
The fee will provide funds for research into burning alternatives.
The fee will not exceed $2.50 per acre (with allowance for inflation).

8. Who administers the agricultural burning permit program?

The law identifies parameters for delegating authority for agricultural burning programs to local county offices. They include conservation districts, counties, fire protection authorities, Ecology and Local Clean Air Agencies.

9. Who sets the permit fee amount?

The Agricultural Burning Practices and Research Task Force is charged with setting the fee. The fee is based on a three-part equation: a portion dedicated to research, a state oversight portion and a local permit administration portion. The equation was based on actual costs.

10. Where does the fee go?

Currently, Ecology has awarded almost $400,000 of grant and research monies to various projects. All this funding was acquired from permit fees. For a list of grant proposal, go to Ecology's grants page.

11. What if I just have a small spot to burn?

If you are burning at your residence, see the Outdoor Burning Focus Sheet. If you are requesting to burn small spots on your farm, you need to complete a Spot Burn Permit Application and pay a $25.00 fee for up to 10 acres of small spots per year.

12. What is the current fee?

Ecology currently has a fee of $2.00 per acre, with a minimum of $25.00. Most of the permitting authorities charge $2.00 an acre, but some are slightly less, depending on their administrative fee.

$.50 an acre goes to research
$.50-$1.25 goes to local administration
Ecology oversight is $.25 an acre

13. Who are the current permitting authorities and how do I reach them?

County	Telephone Number
Adams	509.659.1533
Asotin	509.758.8012
Benton	509.783.1304
Columbia	509.382.4741
Franklin	509.545.3521
Garfield	509.843.1998
Grant	509.754.0195
Spokane	509.477.4727
Palouse CD	509.332.4101
Palouse Rock CD	509.648.3680
Whitman CD	509.397.4636
Walla Walla	509.522.6340
Yakima	509.574.1410
Pine Creek CD	509.397.4636
Chelan, Douglas, Okanogan, Kittitas, Klickitat	509.575.2490
Lincoln, Ferry, Stevens, Pend Oreille,	509.329.3400

14. What is Township, Section, Range?

The US Public Land Survey (USPLS) was used to survey and subdivide lands starting in the 1800's. A standard "Township" is a 6 mile x 6 mile square composed of 36 one mile square sections. The "Township" is defined by a north or south Township number and an east or west Range number from a set reference line. Note that "Township" refers both to the north/south descriptor and the 6x6 unit described by a pair of Township and Range descriptors. Due to original survey errors it is not uncommon to have sections and Townships that are odd-shaped or not quite standard size. If you are unfamiliar with the USPLS you may contact your county Assessor's Office with your parcel number (see your property tax statement) and they will be able to tell you what your section, Township & Range description is.