Burn Permits

Burn Permits

Burn permits are issued by the Auburn Fire Department at no charge. A site inspection must be scheduled with Auburn Fire personnel. Upon completion of a successful site inspection, a permit will be issued. This permit does not give permission to burn; it merely means that a site inspection was completed. Each day you wish to burn and you have a valid site inspection burn permit, you will need to contact the Auburn Fire Department at (334) 501-3231 and gain permission to burn.

No person shall kindle or maintain any bonfire or rubbish fire or cause any such fire to be kindled or maintained without a permit or proper authorization. The authorized permit holder agrees to the requirements for open burning as set forth by the Auburn Fire Department and the guidelines of the Alabama Department of Environmental Management. The Auburn Fire Department may revoke any permit if violation is noted upon inspection or in the event there has been false statements or misrepresentation as to material fact in the application or plans on which the permit was based.

Situations in which you do NOT need a Burn Permit:

You are not required to have a burn permit for open fires in a device designed for cooking of food for human consumption.

You are not required to have a burn permit for open fires set in salamanders or other devices designed for heating purposes utilizing only wood, vegetation, coal, propane, kerosene, or fuel oil.

Requirements for Obtaining a Burn Permit:

1. The location of the burning must be at least 50 feet from your home and 500 feet from the nearest occupied dwelling other than the dwelling located on the property on which the burning is conducted.
2. Burning is only allowed between 8:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Material should not be added to the fire after 3:00 p.m.
3. Material being burned is restricted to vegetation and untreated wood only.
4. The fire must be attended at all times, until extinguished. The fire must be completely extinguished at the end of each day.
5. Burning is only allowed in the designated area where the site inspection was done.
6. Burn piles are to be no larger than approximately the size of an automobile. You may only have one burn going at any given time.
7. You will not be allowed to burn in excessive wind conditions (approximately 5 mph).
8. You will not be allowed to burn during overcast or periods of rain.
9. You will not be allowed to burn during extremely dry or drought conditions.
10. Under no circumstance shall heavy oils, asphalt products, plastics, vinyl materials, insulation, paper, cardboard, natural or synthetic rubber, salvage or scrap, chemicals, garbage, treated or painted wood, or any trash be burned.

Residential Burn Permits

Residential burn permits are valid for 60 days. Each day you wish to burn within that time period, you must notify the Auburn Fire Department at (334) 501-3231.

Construction or Land Clearing Burn Permits

Land clearing or developmental debris may be required to burn in pits or trenches with fans or blowers. This speeds the process of debris removal and reduces the production of smoke and airborne particles.

Construction or land clearing burn permits are valid for 30 days. Each day you wish to burn within that time period, you must notify the Auburn Fire Department at (334) 501-3231.

It is the preference of the Fire Department to use Air Destructors or pits with fans for large scale developmental burning. The Fire Department has the discretion to require these methods of the contractor. These methods may be required when any of the following circumstances are present: proximity to occupied structures, smoke or ash complaints, weather conditions, or scale of debris. Other factors may also require the use of Air Destructors or pit burning with fans.

Contact

For more information or to obtain a burn permit, please contact the Auburn Fire Department Station # 1 at (334) 501-3231 or Public Safety Services at (334) 501-3110.