Permit-Required Open Burning

If you plan to burn anything outdoors, and the fire will exceed a size of 3 feet wide and 2 feet high, you must obtain a burn permit from North Metro Fire, and in some cases your county health department or the State Department of Public Health & Environment. 

Residents should complete an open burning permit application to begin the process. Once a burn permit has been granted by the Fire District, permit holders must still obtain permission from the Fire Prevention Division on the day of the burn to ensure conditions are safe for open burning.  Fire Prevention Division staff make daily determinations on whether open burning is allowed based on the local fire weather forecast, local atmospheric conditions, and weather watches and warnings from the National Weather Service.

PLEASE NOTE: The burning of trash is strictly illegal. Burning trash is illegal whether it is a recreational fire, permit-allowed open burning, or a farmer doing agricultural burning. Small recreational fires may only burn sticks, branches, or firewood. Construction materials and lumber (2x4’s, etc.), plastic, furniture, appliances, household garbage, tires, chemicals, etc. are not allowed to be burned.

Definitions

Open Burning: 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.

Recreational Fire: 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: 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.

Bonfire: An outdoor fire utilized for ceremonial purposes.

Burns That Require a Permit From North Metro Fire

  • Bonfire
  • Agricultural open burning
  • Fires larger than 3 feet in diameter and/or 2 feet in height

Burns That Don't Require a Permit

  • Outdoor fireplaces
  • Barbeque grills
  • Barbeque pits
  • Fires less than 3 feet in diameter and/or 2 feet in height for religious, ceremonial, cooking or similar uses

After the Burn Permit Is Issued

All open burning shall be conducted in accordance with the adopted fire code as enforced by North Metro Fire, 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.


Officials May Ban Open Burning for Many Reasons

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

County Health Department: The county health department is also empowered to ban all open burning for reasons deemed necessary, such as poor air quality, etc. Please contact the Clean Air Advisory Line at 303-758-4848 to determine if open burning is permitted.

County Sheriff: Furthermore, the county sheriff may also ban all open burning for reasons deemed necessary. The information can often be found on the county sheriff’s website.


Local Tree/Branch Recycling Centers

Homeowners and landowners, regardless of the size of their plot of land, who have cleared brush, trimmed trees and bushes, etc. for the purpose of maintaining their land, sometimes wish to dispose of the yard waste by burning. While this is possible, the fire district always recommends other methods of disposal, such as city or county tree-recycling programs.