Health

Burn Permits

Open Burning Permits in Larimer County

Most outdoor burning requires a permit from both your local fire department and the Larimer County Department of Health and Environment (LCDHE). The fire department checks for fire safety risks, and the health department reviews air quality concerns that could affect people's health.

Open burning is regulated by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) under air quality rules. The Larimer County Health Department enforces these rules, including regulations about burn permits and illegal burning. The Larimer County Sheriff’s Office or local fire departments enforce these rules for areas outside of city limits.

Please Note: Burning without a permit is illegal and can lead to fines up to $10,000 per day.

Things to know before applying for a Burn Permit

Anyone planning to burn outdoors in Larimer County must follow all local, state, and federal rules. It’s your responsibility to understand the air quality rules and any restrictions for open burning. You can review local and state regulations, common exemptions, and other resources below.

About Burn Permits

Open burn permits are typically used for wildfire prevention or land management by property owners in the mountains. These permits are usually limited to 50 slash piles or fewer per year. If you need to burn more than 50 piles, you will need a Smoke Management Permit from CDPHE. Slash is defined as woody material (branches, limbs, and stems) under six inches in diameter, free of dirt. It does not include tree stumps, roots, or other materials.

Notifying Local Agencies

For safety reasons, anyone planning to burn (including agricultural burns, bonfires, or non-commercial cooking fires) should fill out a burn permit application. This helps local fire departments or the Sheriff’s Office review the plan. Fire departments may have specific rules for burning in their areas, so it's a good idea to contact them directly if you have any questions. For more details, please review the Open Burn Permit Regulations and Guidelines below.

Alternative Disposal Options
Before burning, consider other ways to dispose of natural woody or vegetative materials, like mulching, recycling, or reusing. These options may be safer and more environmentally friendly.

Additional information about open burning

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Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment’s Air Pollution Control Division (CDPHE-APCD) Regulations:

Larimer County Requirements:

Notifying Local Agencies About Your Intent to Burn

If you plan to have an agricultural burn, bonfire, non-commercial cooking fire, religious fire, or any other type of burn, please notify local agencies by filling out a burn permit application. Your local fire department or the Larimer County Sheriff’s Office will review your application. Contact your local fire protection agency for more details.

Agricultural Burns

Agricultural burns are defined by the Colorado Air Quality Control Commission (AQCC) under Regulation Number 9, which covers open burning, prescribed fires, and permits. Agricultural burning includes burning vegetation to prepare land for crops, control weeds, maintain water channels for farming, and other farming purposes.

Just because land is zoned “agricultural” doesn’t automatically exempt it from needing a burn permit.

Examples of Agricultural Burns:

  • Fields to clear weeds, stubble, and waste before planting crops
  • Irrigation ditches or water channels
  • Burning under the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP)
  • Waste from a reservoir
  • Stubble from commercial crops
  • Vegetation to control weeds
  • Brush to improve grazing land for livestock
  • Pruned fruit trees, vines, and cull trees in orchards or nurseries

For more details on agricultural burn exemptions, check out the Agricultural Exemption Memorandum from CDPHE-APCD.

Burns Not Included in the Agricultural Exemption

Some burns are not covered by the agricultural exemption, including:

  • Burning animal parts or carcasses
  • Burning household trash, wood, or yard waste on agricultural land

Other Burns Exempt from Permits

There are also some types of burns that don’t require a permit:

  • Noncommercial cooking fires for food or recreation
  • Fires used for instructional or training purposes (except for wildland pile or broadcast fires that exceed certain size limits)
  • Safety flares used to signal danger to the public

Guidelines for Open Burning

To ensure safe burning, the materials you burn must meet the following requirements:

  • Only clean, dry branches (no larger than 6 inches in diameter) can be burned. These are called “slash.” They should not include materials that create a lot of smoke, such as rubber, tires, plastics, wire insulation, household trash, paper, cardboard, furniture, construction debris, fencing, treated wood, grass, leaves, yard waste, or animal parts.
  • Contact the Local Fire Protection District or Authority for further restrictions in their jurisdiction.

Pile Burns

  • Burn piles should be no larger than 8 feet wide and 6 feet high.
  • Air Curtain Burners (ACB), with an approved CDPHE-APCD permit may be operated all year with approved material and operated in accordance with Manufacturer’s Guidelines and Open Burning Requirements. Use of ACBs during Red Flag Days or “Air Quality Action Day” is not allowed. 

Weather and Safety Rules

  • Open burning is not allowed if winds are stronger than 10 miles per hour, or if high winds are expected.
  • Fires must always be attended by a responsible person who is not impaired.
  • Always have water, a rake, and a shovel nearby while burning.
  • Keep the fire under control at all times, and make sure it’s completely out before leaving.
  • All burning must be finished by nightfall.

Location and Notifications

  • Make sure burn piles are in open areas, far from standing trees and buildings.
  • Before starting a burn, the person in charge must notify the local fire department listed on the approved burn permit.

Burn Restrictions

  • Burning is not allowed on "Red Flag Days" or "Air Quality Action Days" for ozone or fine particulates. Check air quality advisories for updates.
  • Burning in barrels is not allowed.
  • Open burn permits are not valid during air pollution emergencies or alerts in the area of your burn.
  • Open burn permits can only be issued for areas up to 10 acres of grass or 5 acres of other vegetation for broadcast burning.

Pile Burn Restrictions for Elevations Above 6,000 Feet in Larimer County

  • Note: The open burn season for piles is October 1 through May 1.
  • There must be at least 3 inches of snow around the burn piles.

Prohibited Materials

You cannot burn the following materials:

  • Yard and garden waste from routine clean-ups
  • Structures or construction debris
  • Household garbage
  • Furniture
  • Materials that produce excessive smoke (like cattails or plastics)
  • Commercial or business waste
  • Tree stumps
  • Wood pallets
  • Treated wood
  • Tires
  • Animal carcasses
  • Hazardous materials

Open Burning is prohibited when a “Red Flag Warning”, “Air Quality Action Day” for ozone and/or fine particulates, or other air pollution emergency is in effect in the area of the proposed burn.

  • Air Quality Action Day
    • An Action Day for fine particulates, carbon monoxide or ozone indicates current air quality is unhealthy or conditions are expected to worsen later in the day or on the next day.
    • Action Days for air pollutants generally mean air quality will be in the Unhealthy or Unhealthy-for-Sensitive-Groups categories, according to the Air Quality Index.
    • To view Front Range Air Quality Advisories: Colorado Air Quality Summary
  • Red Flag Warnings, High Wind Warnings and Fire Weather Watch
  • Burn Restrictions/Bans
  • Colorado Smoke Outlook
    • The focus of Colorado Smoke Outlook is on large fires (greater than 100 acres in size): Colorado Smoke Outlook
  • Smoke Monitor Data and Analysis

Larimer County Sheriff’s Office Emergency Services: Emergency Services and Fire Rescue | Larimer County

Poudre Fire Authority: Outdoor Fire Pits, Fireplaces, and Burning
Loveland Fire Rescue Authority: Why do I need a "Burn Permit" and how do I get one? 
Berthoud Fire: Open Burning & Burn Permits 
Wellington FPD: Burn Permits 
Estes Valley FPD: Burn Permits 
Glacier View FPD: Glacier View Fire Protection District

Livermore FPD: https://www.livermorefireco.gov/
Lyons FPD: https://lyonsfire.org/
Red Feather Lakes FPD: https://www.rflvfd.org/
Pinewood Springs FPD: https://www.pinewoodspringsfire.org/
Poudre Canyon FPD: https://pcfpd.specialdistrict.org/
Crystal Lakes FPD: https://www.clvfd.org/
Allenspark FPD: https://www.allensparkfire.com/


Apply for a Burn Permit

Please Note: Due to temporary staffing changes, residents submitting permit applications from March 12 through March 14, 2025 may experience delayed reviews. To ensure a timely review, please submit applications at least 5 business days before the intended burn date.

Application Tips: 

Online Application

You will be notified via email the status of your application and will receive an electronic copy of the burn permit.

  Apply for a Burn Permit

Walk-In

Come to our office and fill out the form
Larimer County Department of Health and Environment
1525 Blue Spruce Drive
Fort Collins, CO 80524

Burn Permit Application Status and Active Burns

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Air Quality

Department of Health and Environment - Environmental Health
970-498-6775