Office of the Fire Marshal

Open Burning Information and Permits

Open burning is limited to the burning of brush only, which is defined as shrubs, vegetation or prunings, the diameter of which is not greater than three inches at the widest point. Leaves and grass are not considered brush. Open burning is not allowed for the purpose of clearing land, or for the disposal of construction debris, household trash, or leaves. (Visit Southbury Transfer Station website for information on disposal of those items.) Open Burning Season usually starts on October 1 (conditions permitting) and ends in April.

Restrictions:

• The burning must not take place when national or state ambient air quality standards may be exceeded.
• The burning must not take place where a hazardous health condition might be created or where there is an advisory from the DEEP Commissioner of any air pollution episode.
• The burning must not take place when the Air Quality Index (AQI) is predicted to be 75 or higher in any town listed in the table entitled “Predicted Daily AQI Maximums".
• The burning must not take place when the Forest Fire Danger Level is identified by DEEP as high, very high, or extreme.
• The burning must not take place where prohibited by an ordinance of the municipality.
• The burning must cease if so directed by any member of the town Fire Marshal's office, Officer of the Fire Department, designated Municipal Official responsible for enforcing the open burning laws and ordinances, or any official of the Health Department or DEEP.

Residents looking to burn must have a valid and signed permit from their local Open Burning Official.

INDIVIDUAL PERMITS MAY BE GRANTED BY THE FIRE MARSHAL BASED ON LOCATION AND CIRCUMSTANCE AT ANY TIME DURING THE YEAR.

The Office of the Fire Marshal issues or denies burning permits only after the following steps are taken:

1. Completion of the application - now available through the Southbury Online Permit System.
2. Payment of a $20 fee for such application and permit.  
3. Inspection of the site by the burning official. Inspection may reveal the need for certain conditions to be met for burning to take place.

The Connecticut General Statutes in Section 22a-174(f) and the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies (Dept of Environmental Protection) require the following general conditions:

1. Only brush, 3” or less in diameter may be burned. (No Leaves, Stumps, etc.)
2. The permittee/applicant must reside on the property where burning is to take place.
3. Burning must cease when directed by the Fire Marshal or Fire Chief or their designees, or upon order of any official of the Connecticut DEEP.
4. Burning should be complete and attempts to reduce excessive smoke should be taken.
5. Safety precautions must be taken. The area around the burning site/pile must be cleared to prevent fire spread, wetting down the surrounding area may be required, and a water hose must be on site for purposes of control.
6. The permit must be immediately available at the site during burning.
7. Burning may only be conducted between 10am and 5pm on a sunny or partly sunny day when the wind speed is between 5 and 15 mph.

The Southbury Fire Marshal’s Office sets as a condition of every permit:

1. PRIOR TO BURNING, the resident MUST call 203-262-0637 for final verbal approval for that day.
2. Available water source must be on site (garden hose, water buckets).
3. The permittee must be on site at all times burning takes place for purposes of site supervision. Unattended fires will result in revocation of the burning permit.
4. Upon complaint of neighbors concerning excessive smoke/smell, or by Fire Department Personnel concerning improper or unsafe burning, the fire will be ordered extinguished, the permit revoked and alternate means of disposal must be found.

PLEASE READ YOUR PERMIT

Violations of conditions of Open Burning Permits or burning without a permit will subject to the permittee or person burning to revocation of issued permits, forfeiture of the ability to obtain future permits and/or arrest for violation of Connecticut General Statute 23-48 (as amended by PA 01-150), which could result in fine up to $200 and/or up to 6 months imprisonment.