OPEN BURNING

Open burning refers to any person starting or causing to be started any fire or igniting any material in any woodland area under the protection of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources or within 500 feet of any such woodland area.

The General Assembly finds that open burning close to woodlands must be regulated in all counties to protect against forest fires and air pollution. The General Assembly further finds that in certain counties a high percentage of the land area contains organic soils or forest types which may pose greater problems of forest fire and air pollution controls, and that in counties in which a great amount of land-clearing operations is taking place on these organic soils or these forest types, additional control of open burning is required. The counties subject to the need for additional control are classified as ‘high hazard counties.’ Iredell County is considered a “Non-High Hazard County.”

Permissible Burning
Permissible burning is open burning of leaves, tree branches, or yard trimmings originating on the premises of private residences and burned on those premises, where no public pickup is available and it shall not create a nuisance.

Open burning for land clearing or right-of-way maintenance is permissible provided that prevailing winds are away from the built up areas, the location of the burn is at least 1000 feet away from any occupied structure, and only kerosene, distillate, or diesel fuel is used to start the fire.

During periods of hazardous forest fire conditions or during air pollution episodes, the Secretary is authorized to prohibit all open burning regardless of whether a permit is required. The Secretary is also authorized to cancel any current permits and suspend issuance of additional permits.

You will find more information regarding open burning regulations on your burn permit.

Situations That Do Not Require A Permit
Any fires started within 100 feet of an occupied dwelling will not require a permit if: the fire is confined within an enclosure from which burning material may not escape or if it is within a protected area where there area is being monitored by persons and there is adequate fire protection equipment readily available. For example, a backyard campfire that it burning inside a closed circle of large rocks, a water hose connected to a water faucet close at hand, and is being constantly monitored, would not require a permit.

Penalties
The Permitee is responsible for complying with all air pollution laws, regulations, and ordinances, and complying with all other State and Federal forest fire laws. Any person found in violation of state law regulating open burning shall be guilty of a Class 3 misdemeanor, under Article 4c of General Statutes 113-60.21 through 113-60.31.

Contact Information

County Ranger Dennis Floyd: 704-878-4216

Division of Air Quality-
Mooresville Regional Office: 704-663-1699

Other Resources
For a complete list of burn permit agencies in Iredell County, to view state laws on open burning, and for statistics and safety tips, visit the North Carolina Forest Service homepage. This website is an excellent resource with information on wildfires, air quality, smoke management, online burn permits, and more.