Regulations, Permits and Fees

General Open Burning Rules

• Fires must be constantly attended until extinguished and no longer smoldering.
• Attendees must provide adequate fire extinguishing equipment to control the fire.
• The Virginia Department of Forestry requires that any open burning from Feb. 15 through April 30 between the hours of 4 p.m. and midnight. Must be within 300 feet of woodland, brushland, or field containing dry grass or other combustible material leading to woodland.

Prohibited Burns

• Building and/or demolition material
• Household/commercial trash or refuse
• Paper, used lumber or trade waste
• Rubber tires, asphaltic material, crankcase oil or impregnated wood
• Toxic or hazardous materials or containers for such materials

Bonfires, Campfires and Recreational Fires

Bonfires, campfires and recreational fires are permitted under certain circumstances. 

Only one bonfire shall be ignited at a time not exceeding 5 feet by 5 feet, and it must be 50 feet from any structure. Only clean wood or firewood is allowed to be used as fuel. If the applicant is not the owner of property, the owner's written permission shall be obtained. A principal is acceptable for school property.

Campfire/Recreational fires are allowed without permits if:

• The fuel is clean wood only
• The fire is 25 feet from a structure or combustible material
• The fire is no larger than 3 feet in diameter and 2 feet in height
• A written permit is recommended for bonfires

Apply for an Open Burn Permit
A written permit must be obtained from Chesterfield Fire and EMS, Fire and Life Safety Division. The permit is valid for day of bonfire only.

An open burn permit application must be submitted at least 15 days before burn date. An application with all required permissions shall be submitted for each permit requested.

Fire Pits and Burn Barrels

You may have a recreational fire in a fire pit using only clean wood (sticks and/or firewood). The fire should be limited in size to 3 feet by 2 feet and be attended at all times with means available to extinguish it. We recommend your fire be at least 25 feet from anything combustible.

Land Clearing and Property Maintenance

Permits are for 90 days. You can burn any debris generated from development of property. This includes the removal of unwanted, leaning, hazardous or dead trees, regardless of size, during normal upkeep or landscaping of the property. This could also include but is not limited to limbs, tree trunks, logs and stumps.

Debris Open Burning Rules
Open burning is prohibited by law in May through September. Burning must take place on site where debris was generated. Efforts should be made to minimize burned material.

Debris should be limited to 25 feet by 15 feet and approved by Chesterfield Fire and EMS, Fire and Life Safety Division. The location must be a minimum of 500 feet from occupied building unless prior permission with the Neighbor Permission Form (PDF) is given. A copy of permit, site plan, and guidelines must be kept at burn site.

Apply for an Open Burn Permit
A written permit must be obtained from Chesterfield Fire and EMS, Fire and Life Safety Division. A open burn permit application shall be submitted at least 15 days before burn date.

A permit is valid for 90 calendar days from date of issue (except if 90 days falls within the no burn season). A one time 30 day extension, may be requested prior to original expiration.

An application must include:

• $400 Fee
• Certificate of Liability Insurance Coverage
  • General Liability Coverage Needed at All Times While Burning
  • Liability Insurance Minimum Amount of $1,000,000
• Complete Permit Application
• Site Plan of Burn Site

Leaf Burning

It is lawful to burn leaves in designated areas of the county, on your own property, twice a year. Allowable times are Spring from March 15 to April 15 (Mondays through Thursdays, 4 p.m. to midnight each day) and Fall from Nov. 15 to Dec. 15 (Mondays at 8 a.m. to Fridays at noon).

Leaf Burning Area

To search by address where burning leaves is allowed, view the burn area map.

Tree and Garden Trimmings

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.)

Tree and Garden Trimmings Burning Rules
Chesterfield residents are limited to two permits per burn season per address October through April. Burning is prohibited by law May through September, and only one pile must be burned at a time.

Your pile must not exceed the 6 feet by 8 feet by 4 feet size. The location of the burning must be a minimum of 300 feet from occupied building unless prior permission with the Neighbor Permission Form (PDF) is given.

Fires must be at least 50 feet from any structure or combustible material. Burning should take place on premises of private property where trimmings were taken.

Apply for an Open Burn Permit
A written permit is required prior to open burning of tree and garden trimmings. An open burn permit application must be submitted at least 15 days before burn date.

An application with all required permissions must be submitted for each permit requested. It will be valid for 30 days non-renewable.