The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Air Quality is reminding residents and businesses that burning trash, metal, plastic, and other man-made materials is illegal under state law. The agency emphasizes that open burning is only permitted in specific situations and only for natural vegetative materials such as leaves, limbs, and yard debris.
“If it doesn’t grow, don’t burn it,” the department stated. Open burning rules—North Carolina’s oldest air quality regulation—restrict what can be burned outdoors and set limits on when burning can occur.
According to these regulations, residential yard waste and commercial land clearing burns are allowed only between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m., with no new vegetation added after 6 p.m. Burning is also limited to days when the air quality forecast is Code Green or Code Yellow; burning on Code Orange, Red, or Purple days is not allowed. Residents can check their county’s air quality status at the online Air Quality Portal.
Yard waste must come from a private residence and be burned at that location. Burning yard waste from other properties is not permitted. Such burning is allowed only if local ordinances permit it and if public pickup services are unavailable.
Campfires, outdoor cooking fires, and bonfires are generally allowed unless restricted by local rules or temporary bans. Only natural wood should be used in these fires, which must always be supervised.
Commercial land clearing operations face additional restrictions. Vegetation should typically originate on the site where it will be burned; transporting debris for off-site burning may occur up to four times per year if certain conditions are met. Kerosene or diesel fuel may be used to start land-clearing fires but no other man-made materials can be included. Burn piles must also meet distance requirements: at least 500 feet from occupied buildings and 250 feet from public roads when winds blow toward the road. Wind direction information can be found through the National Weather Service.
Enforcement of these rules involves cooperation among state officials, local law enforcement agencies, fire departments, fire marshals, and the N.C. Forest Service. Violators risk fines of up to $25,000 per violation per day. Complaints about illegal open burning can be reported to regional DEQ offices or submitted anonymously online.
Careless debris burning remains the main cause of wildfires in North Carolina. The N.C Forest Service may require an open burning permit before certain fires are started—including those in protected areas—but permits are not issued by the Division of Air Quality itself. Instead, they are available through the N.C Forest Service website (ncforestservice.gov/burnpermit) or by contacting a local office or permitting agent.
Local governments may enforce stricter regulations than those set by state law; residents should consult with local authorities regarding any additional restrictions in their area.
There are exceptions within state law for special burns such as firefighter training exercises and prescribed burns. More information about open burning regulations—including educational videos—is available on DEQ’s Open Burning website.
For assistance in Spanish or another language, individuals can call 919-707-8446 or email Shawn.Taylor@deq.nc.gov.
