To help maintain air quality for Stafford residents, a 4 p.m. Burn Law has been enacted to regulate open burning in the county.
Open burning on residential property includes the burning of wood, brush, grass and leaves. All burning of garbage and waste is prohibited throughout the county.
For the allowed usage of open burning, a permit is required by the Stafford Fire and Rescue Department.
If you intend to burn you must notify Stafford County Communications Center at 540-658-4440.
PERMIT REQUIREMENT A permit is required for open burning for the purpose of land or site
clearing operations. This permit may be obtained from the Fire and Rescue Department. No permits will be issued between June 1 and August 31 (see below). Open burning for the purpose of land clearing operations for such things as constructing roads and highways, buildings and building areas, parking areas, and power and communication lines are prohibited in the Northern Virginia Volatile Organic Compounds Emissions Control Area during the months of June, July, and August. This area encompasses northern Virginia localities, including the County of Stafford (see 9 VAC 5-40-5630 and 9 VAC 5-20-206).
The burn law will be effective from February 15 to April 30 every year, where residents will only be allowed to open between 4 p.m. and 12 a.m.
More information on open burning from a Stafford Fire and Rescue release:
PROHIBITED OPEN BURNING The burning of garbage, refuse, trash, rubbish and other forms of
liquid or solid waste is prohibited at all times.
RESIDENTIAL BURNING The burning of wood, brush, grass trimmings or leaves is permitted in all areas of the County, provided the following conditions are met:
1. The fire must be a minimum of 50 feet from any structure and be 300 feet from any
occupied dwelling. If you wish to burn within 300 feet of an occupied dwelling you MUST
have written permission from those who occupy those dwellings; AND 2. You MUST
constantly attend the fire at all times; AND 3. Burning MUST be conducted in such a
fashion as to minimize any nuisance to neighbors.
OPEN BURNING FOR LAND AND SITE CLEARING Open burning for land and site clearing
operations resulting from commercial, industrial, or residential development is prohibited in all areas of the County designated as R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4, PD-1 and PD-2 on the County’s zoning maps.
Open burning for these purposes is permitted in all other areas of the County, provided certain
conditions are complied with, as required by the Department of Fire, Rescue and Emergency Services.
RECREATIONAL FIRES Bonfires and campfires are permitted if the fuel consists only of seasoned dry hardwood, ignited with a small quantity of paper. Fires will be no more than 5 feet by 5 feet in dimension and will not burn more than 3 hours at any one time. At no time shall bonfires or campfires be used for waste disposal purposes.
HELPFUL HINTS FOR LEAF BURNING
• Burn only dry leaves. Wet leaves produce unnecessary smoke generation.
• Burn only small piles no more than 3 feet wide and 2 feet tall. Large, long piles
do not completely burn.
• Never use gas, lighter fluid or any other fuel to kindle or rekindle a fire. If the
leaves need fuel to burn, they are too wet to burn and may create potential for
injury.
• Start the fire in your leaf pile against the wind. This will allow the fire to burn
slower and burn deeper into the leaf pile.
• Keep small children away from the fire and out of the smoke. • Keep a garden
hose handy in case of sudden, uncontrolled fire spread. Violation of these
regulations is a misdemeanor, punishable by a fine up to $2500 and possible jail
time.
DEFINITIONS
BONFIRE – An outdoor fire used for ceremonial purposes.
SITE & LAND CLEARING – The process of clearing land of trees, brush and
other debris for the purpose of making way for streets, roads and/or buildings.
GARBAGE – Animal and vegetable matter such as that originating in houses,
kitchens, restaurants and hotels or produce markets which is accumulated in the
course of ordinary day-to-day living.
RECREATIONAL BURNING – An outdoor fire which is used to cook food for
human consumption, such as camp fires, warming fire and bonfires.
REFUSE – Trash, rubbish, garbage and other forms of solid or liquid waste,
including but not limited to wastes resulting from residential, agricultural,
commercial, industrial, institutional trade, construction, land clearing, forest
management and emergency operations.
A Guide to Open Air Burning For further information on Stafford County open burn laws, please
contact the Fire & Rescue Department at (540) 658-7200 Monday through Friday 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM.
