Open_Burning_-_Florida_Forest_Service_.pdf
PDF 581 KB Posted
- Attached to
- Lake Geneva Restoration Project
- Solicitation number
- 25/26-013
- Issued by
- Clay County, Harold CDP, Florida
About this file
This is an informational document published by the Florida Forest Service, a division of the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (DACS), providing guidance on outdoor burning regulations and authorization requirements in Florida. The document distinguishes between burning activities that require authorization from the Florida Forest Service—including agricultural, silvicultural, land clearing, pile, and acreage burning—and those that do not, specifically yard waste burning conducted within specified parameters. Yard waste burning is permitted without authorization when the debris is generated on-site, contained within an 8-foot diameter pile or non-combustible container, ignited after 8:00 a.m. Central Time or 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time, and extinguished one hour before sunset, provided no local, city, or county ordinances prohibit burning and required setbacks are maintained. Piles exceeding 8 feet in diameter require formal authorization, suppression equipment on-site, and compliance with additional setback requirements.
The document prohibits burning of household garbage, treated lumber, plastics, rubber materials, tires, pesticides, paint, and aerosol containers and emphasizes that escaped debris burning represents one of the leading causes of wildfires in Florida. The guidance includes practical outdoor burning safety tips, including clearing bare soil around burn piles, covering non-combustible containers with wire mesh, avoiding windy conditions, never leaving fires unattended, and maintaining water or shovel availability for fire suppression. The document provides contact information for thirteen Florida Forest Service field offices organized by geographic region and county coverage, enabling property owners and contractors to verify local burning legality and obtain necessary authorizations. Property owners remain liable for suppression costs and damages if fires escape their control.
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Text version
Did You Know?
• Escaped debris burning is one of the leading causes of wildfires in Florida.
• The Florida Forest Service administers Florida’s outdoor burning and forest fire laws.
• Some types of burning require an authorization from the Florida Forest Service while others do not.
• Burning yard waste does not require an authorization but you must follow the rules for your area.
Burning Authorization Required Agricultural, silvicultural, land clearing, pile and acreage burning all require a burning authorization from the Florida Forest Service.
Burning Authorization Not Required Authorization is not required to burn yard waste as long as you meet the required setbacks and there are no local, city or county ordinances in place that prohibit burning.
Check with your local, city and county officials to find out if there are any restrictions in your area.
What is Yard Waste?
Yard waste is any vegetative debris such as grass clippings, brush, leaves, tree limbs, palm fronds, etc., that are a result of yard maintenance.
You may burn yard waste without authorization as long as:
• You meet the required setbacks and no local, city or county ordinances prohibit burning;
• The yard waste was generated on your property and it will fit in an 8-foot diameter pile or non-combustible container; and
• The fire is ignited after 8:00 a.m. central time or 9:00 a.m. eastern time and is extinguished one hour before sunset.
NOTE, Piles greater than 8 feet in diameter will require:
• An authorization from the Florida Forest Service;
• Suppression equipment on hand; and
• Additional setback requirements.
It is illegal to burn household garbage (including paper products), treated lumber, plastics, rubber materials, tires, pesticides, paint, and aerosol containers.
Large Pile Burns Outdoor Burning Tips
• Clear an area down to bare soil around your pile to prevent the fire from spreading.
• Cover a non-combustible container with wire mesh to keep sparks from flying out and starting new fires.
• If you have questions on outdoor burning, please contact your local Florida Forest Service office or visit:
FloridaForestService.com
Know The Law Before Burning Outdoors in Florida
FloridaForestService.com
Florida Forest Service Field Headquarters
Blackwater Forestry Center (850) 957-5701 Escambia • Okaloosa • Santa Rosa
Chipola Forestry Center (850) 373-1801 Bay • Calhoun • Gulf • Holmes Jackson • Walton • Washington
Tallahassee Forestry Center (850) 681-5951 Franklin • Gadsden • Jefferson Liberty • Leon • Wakulla
Perry Forestry District (850) 223-0751 Dixie • Lafayette • Madison • Taylor
Suwannee Forestry Center (386) 243-6243 Baker • Bradford • Columbia Hamilton • Suwannee • Union
Jacksonville Forestry District (904) 266-8351 Clay • Duval • Nassau
Waccasassa Forestry Center (352) 395-4951 Alachua • Gilchrist • Levy • Marion • Putnam
Bunnell Forestry District (386) 585-6151 Flagler • St. Johns • Volusia
| Withlacoochee Forestry Center | (352) 797-4100 | |
| Citrus • Hernando • Lake • Pasco • Sumt | er |
Orlando Forestry District (407) 888-8760 Brevard • Orange • Osceola • Seminole
Lakeland Forestry District (863) 940-6701 Hillsborough • Pinellas • Polk
Myakka River Forestry District (941) 213-6970 Charlotte • DeSoto • Hardee • Manatee • Sarasota
Okeechobee Forestry District (863) 467-3221 Glades • Highlands • Indian River Martin • Okeechobee • St. Lucie
Caloosahatchee Forestry Center (239) 690-8001 Collier • Hendry • Lee
Everglades Forestry District (954) 453-2800 Broward • Miami-Dade • Monroe • Palm Beach
Outdoor Burning Tips (Cont.)
• Check with your local Florida Forest
Service office to make sure it is legal to burn in your area.
• Make sure you meet the required setbacks.
• Burn only yard waste, no household garbage (includes paper products and newspapers).
• Don’t burn on windy days.
• Never leave a fire unattended.
• Keep a water hose or shovel handy in case your fire escapes.
• Make sure smoke does not obstruct visibility on nearby roads.
• Be sure fire is completely out before you leave.
REMEMBER!
If your fire escapes, you may be liable for costs of suppression and damage to the property of others.
FOREST FIRE LAWS & OPEN BURNING REGULATIONS
DACS-P 00149 – REVISED 5/2015 – PRINTED 4/2016
File details come from the government source that posted it. Updated .