Open Burning Regulations

No Burning from May 1 Through September 30

Open burning/permitted burning does not excuse you from consequences associated with damages or injuries. All laws, ordinances, regulations must be complied with according to federal government, Commonwealth of Virginia and/or Chesterfield County.

Rules for Any Type of Open Burning

  • Fires must be constantly attended until extinguished and no longer smoldering.
  • Attendees must provide adequate fire extinguishing equipment to control the fire.
  • The Virginia Division of Forestry requires the following:

The Virginia Department of Forestry requires that any open burning from February 15 through April 30 of each year, within 300 feet of woodland, brushland, or field containing dry grass or other combustible material leading to woodland, be done between the hours of 4:00 p.m. and 12:00 midnight.

Burn Types

  1. Tree / Garden Trimmings
  2. Land Clearing / Property Maintenance
  3. Leaf Burning
  4. Bonfires, Campfires, & Recreational Fires

Permits are for 30 days. You can burn any vegetation that:

  • Commonly removed from trees, shrubs or garden plants during the normal pruning process
  • Falls from trees during normal thunderstorms or windy days
  • Is removed from a garden after the growing season (corn stalks, tomato vines, bean vines, etc.)

View more information about burning tree/garden trimmings.