The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Air Quality reminded residents and businesses on Mar. 9 that burning trash, metal, plastic, and other man-made materials outdoors is illegal under state law.
This reminder comes as many people turn to outdoor burning for debris disposal in the spring. The department said open burning not only harms the environment and public health but also violates regulations designed to protect air quality.
Open burning refers to any outdoor fire that releases smoke and pollution directly into the air, including burn piles and barrels. State rules allow open burning only in limited circumstances and only for vegetative materials such as leaves, limbs, and yard debris. The regulation—North Carolina’s oldest air quality rule—also restricts when and how these materials can be burned. For example, residential yard waste or commercial land clearing burns are permitted only between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m., with no new vegetation added after 6 p.m., and only when the air quality forecast is Code Green or Code Yellow.
Other requirements include that yard waste must originate from a private residence and be burned on-site; local ordinances may further restrict burning if public pickup is available. Campfires, cooking fires, and bonfires are allowed unless prohibited locally or by temporary bans, provided only vegetation like firewood is used. Commercial land clearing operations face additional restrictions: burn piles must be at least 500 feet from occupied structures and at least 250 feet from public roads when winds blow toward the road.
The Division of Air Quality enforces these rules in partnership with local law enforcement, firefighters, fire marshals, and the North Carolina Forest Service. Violators can face fines up to $25,000 per violation per day. Careless debris burning remains the leading cause of wildfires in North Carolina; certain fires may require permits from the Forest Service but not from the Division of Air Quality.
According to the official website, the Department of Environmental Quality supports public education and environmental compliance to foster community awareness across North Carolina. The agency aims to deliver science-based stewardship promoting health for all residents according to its official website. Its regulatory authority covers air, land, water, and coastal environments statewide according to its official website. Services include air quality regulation, permit issuance, environmental law enforcement, waste management, and water resource oversight according to its official website. The department serves as a state agency focused on protecting natural resources according to its official website with its central office located at 217 West Jones Street in Raleigh according to its official website.
Local governments may have stricter rules than state law regarding open burning. More information about exceptions for special burns such as firefighter training exercises can be found on DEQ’s Open Burning website.