Land Clearing Burns
Current Status of Burn Restrictions Can be Found Here
Landclearing burning is the outdoor burning of trees, stumps, shrubbery, or other natural vegetation from land clearing projects.
Typical Characteristics:
- Heavy equipment is involved.
- A vacant lot that is being cleared (for a home, barn, pasture, lawn, etc).
- If a portion of a parcel is being cleared in order to be used for another purpose, which creates a debris pile larger than 4 feet in diameter.
- If there are 1 or more stumps to be burned.
Permitting Agencies
ORCAA's permit program will cover most areas within ORCAA's six-county region. Mason County and several fire districts in the region have instituted programs for their respective areas. In these areas landclearing permits will be administered by these agencies (see table below). If you live within ORCAA's jurisdiction, but outside any of the areas listed, you must obtain your land clearing burning permit from ORCAA.
ORCAA Permit Application
You can find permit applications HERE. Applications are also available by contacting ORCAA's office, (360) 586-1044 or (800) 422-5623.
The fee is $100 per acre.
What are the permit conditions?
The permits will be, where applicable, for land clearing burning piles greater than 4'x4'x3' but not exceeding 20 feet in diameter. The permits will be valid for 30 days. ORCAA's permit will focus on air quality and tips on fire safety. Please see the application form for more details.
Note: No permits will be issued where outdoor burning is prohibited by any state and/or local laws. To see if you live in a burn ban area, see our map pages HERE
Landclearing Burning Permit Programs in ORCAA's Jurisdiction
(see also Residential Burning Permit Programs for additional permit programs.)
Fire Agency and/or County |
Pile Size Limitations |
Fee Charged |
Comments |
|
Clallam County FD 2 |
20'x20'x15' |
$75, non refundable |
30-day permit limit. |
|
Clallam County FD 3 |
20' diameter x 15' high |
$100, non refundable |
30-day permit limit. |
|
Mason County |
No larger than 20' in diameter for land clearing purposes |
$100 |
No more than 1 fire per acre; no more than 3 per parcel. 30-day permit limit. |
|
Pacific County FD #1 |
Up to 20'x20'x15' |
$75 |
60-day permit limit. |
|
Grays Harbor County |
No larger than 20' diameter |
No fee |
7-day permit limit. Can be renewed. Strictly for inside city limits. |
|
Grays Harbor County |
Land clearing burn permit. Pile size limit is 10' x10' |
No fee. |
Permits only for inside Elma city limits. |
Grays Harbor County FD# 10 |
Land clearing burn permit. Pile size limit is 15' diameter. |
No fee. |
7-day limit. Burning period from October 15 to July 1. |
|
Land clearing burn permit. Pile size limit is 25' diameter. |
No fee. |
30-day limit. Burning period from October 16 to June 30. |
|
City of Montesano |
To Be Determined |
TBD |
TBD |
The information in the above table was identified as of April 2004.
Land Clearing Burning Management handbook
The agency has a new Land Clearing Burning Management handbook which can be requested by calling or emailing the agency. The handy booklet focuses on air pollution reduction, burning techniques, and smoke management.
Other Permitting Information
ORCAA implemented a land clearing burn permit program that began November 15, 2001 which partially replaced a program previously provided by the Department of Natural Resources. ORCAA is required by state law to implement such a program.
ORCAA will notify DNR regional offices and fire departments and/or fire districts of land clearing burning permits which are issued for their respective jurisdictions.
For more outdoor burning information, contact these organizations:
PO Box 47600
Olympia WA 98504-7600
360-407-6889
Department of Natural Resources
1-800-527-3305