STATEWIDE BURN BAN GOES INTO EFFECT MAY 1ST THRU SEPT 30TH

Seasonal Restrictions and Air Quality Action Days

Only cooking fires, campfires, patio fire pits, chimenea, and ceremonial fires are allowed during the Ozone Season (May 1 – Sept 30). Residential open burning must wait until October 1.

All open burning is prohibited on Air Quality Action Days, when Delaware’s air quality has been forecast as unhealthy by the Regional Air Quality Partnership. This includes any burning activity which may have been previously approved. Days with unhealthy air quality are designated Code Orange or Code Red days, based on the severity of the warning.

The Delaware State Fire Marshal may also issue a ban against open burning activity in individual counties or statewide.

The National Weather Service may issue a red flag warning against open burning activity due to unfavorable weather conditions that may result in dangerous fire conditions.

Prohibited Residential Open Burning

The following materials are never allowed to be burned In Delaware:

• Leaves

• Grass Clippings

• Garbage/Trash

No one may burn more than 27 cubic feet of branches, limbs, or shrubbery at one time.

No one may burn cut or fallen branches, limbs, or shrubbery not generated by the homeowner’s property.

Residential open burning may not be used to burn land-clearing material.

When Open Burning Is Criminal

DNREC’s Environmental Protection Officers will be directed toward violators of these open burning restrictions for flouting the burn law. Penalties range from $100-$500, plus a possible criminal record with conviction. To report illegal burning, citizens can call the 24-hour Environmental Complaint Hotline at 1-800-662-8802. Verizon cell phone customers can call toll-free #DNR.

For further information regarding controlled burning please visit:

https://dnrec.delaware.gov/air/open-burning/residential