Air Quality Program

Outdoor Burning PermitsA photograph of the sky with clouds.

The type of burning you are planning and the location of the burn will determine whether or not you need a permit.

Land clearing burning

Land clearing burning requires a permit. Land clearing burning means the burning of trees, stumps, shrubbery, or other natural vegetation. To be eligible for a land clearing permit, the use of the land must be changing. Common changes in use are non-agricultural to agricultural; vacant to residential development; and vacant to commercial development. Land clearing burning is not allowed in some areas, such as urban growth areas. For a land clearing burning permit, click here.

Agricultural burning

All agricultural burning requires a permit. For an agricultural burning permit, click here.

Other burning

Some burning doesn't fit into a specific permit category such as land clearing or agricultural. Burning for wildlife habitat enhancement requires a Special Burn Permit. Even some residential burning can require a special permit. For a Special Burn Permit, click here.

Fire training

Burning a structure for a fire training exercise might require a fire training permit. If the structure is located within a urban growth area or is within the city limits of a city that has a population of 10,000 people or more, a fire training permit is required. For a fire training permit, click here.

Asbestos demolition/renovation

Whenever a building is going to be demolished, renovated, or burned for fire training purposes, an asbestos demolition / renovation notification form must be filled out and submitted to the appropriate air authority. If abatement is to occur, forms must be received at least 10 days prior to commencement of removal activities. For an Asbestos Demolition/Renovation Notification Form, click here.

Silvicultural (forest) burning

Silvicultural burning, or burning of forest land, is regulated by the Department of Natural Resources. Click here for a link to their web site.

Questions?

Please contact the Department of Ecology or your local clean air agency if you have questions about what permit application you might need, or to find out if burning is allowed in your area.

Central Regional Office (Chelan, Douglas, Kittitas, Klickitat, and Okanogan counties): (509) 575-2490

Eastern Regional Office (Adams, Asotin, Columbia, Franklin, Garfield, Grant, Lincoln, Stevens, Pend Oreille, Walla Walla, and Whitman counties): (509) 329-3400


Related Links

PDF forms and other type documents may require one of these free readers.

Contact Us