Open Burns

From bonfires to agricultural open burns, citizens must have approvals from both health and fire officials. Residents of Broomfield, Boulder and Jefferson Counties should first contact their County’s Health Department. Adams County residents should contact the Colorado State Health Department.

After the Health Department approves the burn, residents need to fill out a FREE Open Burning Application through North Metro Fire Rescue.

Definitions
Open Burning is defined as the burning of a bonfire, rubbish fire, or other fire in an outdoor location where fuel burned is not contained in an incinerator, outdoor fireplace, barbeque grill or barbeque pit. Open burning of rubbish containing paper products is PROHIBITED.

A recreational fire is defined as the burning of materials other than rubbish where fuel being burned is not contained in an incinerator, outdoor fireplace, barbeque grill, or barbeque pit and with a total fuel area of 3 feet or less in diameter and 2 feet or less in height for pleasure, religious, ceremonial, cooking or similar purposes.

Agricultural open burning is defined as the open burning of cover vegetation for the purpose of preparing the soil for crop production, weed control, maintenance of water conveyance structures related to agricultural operations, and other agricultural cultivation purposes.

A bonfire is defined as the open burning of cut trees, vegetation, or clean lumber.

Burns that Do and Don’t Require a Permit
Open Burn Types Requiring a Permit from North Metro
• Bonfire
• Agricultural open burning
• Fires larger than 3 feet in diameter and/or 2 feet in height

Open Burn Types NOT Requiring a Permit from North Metro
• Outdoor fireplaces
• Barbeque grills
• Barbeque pits
• Fires less than 3 feet in diameter and/or 2 feet in height for such uses: Religious, Ceremonial, Cooking, or Similar purposes

After Permit is Issued
All open burning shall be conducted in accordance with the adopted fire code as enforced by North Metro Fire Rescue, with emissions standards as administered by the applicable County Health Department or the State of Colorado (where there is no County Health Department), and with regard to public safety as determined by the County Sheriff.

Under the authority of the adopted fire code, North Metro may ban all open burning for reasons deemed necessary (i.e., high fire danger, high winds, etc.). Fire and weather conditions change constantly and are continuously evaluated by Fire Prevention Division Personnel throughout the day.

The County Health Department is also empowered to ban all open burning for reasons deemed necessary. Please contact the Clean Air Advisory Line at (303) 758-4848 to determine if open burning will be permitted.

Furthermore, the County Sheriff may also ban all open burning for reasons deemed necessary. Notification of such a ban is provided via a Press Release to local newspapers with a copy provided to the fire jurisdiction(s) affected.

The Fire District requires that a copy of the County Heath Department or State of Colorado exemption letter accompany an application for permit in order to process any request for an open burn permit. Telephone numbers for the County Health Departments and the State of Colorado are listed to the left.