Get A Permit

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From October 15 through May 15, a burn permit from the Tennessee Division of Forestry (TDF) is required for debris pile fires and prescribed fires.

Why We Use Permits

The permit system is one of the key ways we use to communicate with residents about where, when, and how it is safe to burn.

Permits are issued when it is safe to burn. When it is unsafe to burn due to hazardous fire conditions, TDF implements a burn restriction and temporarily pauses the issuance of burn permits, then resumes once conditions improve.

Local Burning Laws May Supercede

Some counties or municipalities have their own more restrictive burning regulations that supercede TDF's burn permit program requirements. Click the button below to view a list of these locations:

If your city or county is on the list, please contact your local government to learn more about the local restrictions, permit requirements, etc. that apply in your area.


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How to Get a Permit

Apply Online

Permits are available online 7 days a week, 8 am to 11 pm Eastern and Central, depending on your location.

 

Call 877-350-BURN (2876)

Permits are available via phone Monday through Friday, from 8 am to 4:30 pm Central, except for holidays.

We do experience high call volume at times, leading to long wait times, so we encourage all permit applicants to use the online system.

Burn Permit FAQs

Permits are good for one day, so always obtain your burn permit on the day on which you intend to burn.

Be sure your fire is completely out by midnight on the day you obtained your permit, or get an additional permit for an additional day.

Fires That DO Require Permits:

  • Leaf piles
  • Woody debris like branches
  • Hurricane storm debris
  • Prescribed fires

Fires That Do NOT Require Permits:

  • Fires in containers/barrels with a 1/2" mesh screen cover
  • Ceremonial fires
  • Grilling

For information on what materials may NOT be burned in Tennessee, please visit Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation's Open Burning Guidelines by clicking the button below:

To report illegal burning, please call toll-free 1-888-891-TDEC.

Restrictions:

When wildfire risk is meaningfully elevated, we temporarily pause the issuance of burn permits. This is a burn restriction, not a burn ban.

That means no one may not conduct burns that require a permit until the restriction is lifted.

Restrictions do NOT prohibit campfires, outdoor grilling, or burn barrels with mesh covers.

Bans:

If hazardous fire weather poses an uncommonly severe risk, the Commissioner of Agriculture, in consultation with the State Forester, may issue a burn ban for specific counties at the request of county mayors. The Governor may also issue a burn ban on a regional or statewide basis. Such bans carry more significant punishments when violated than burning without a permit. 

Burn bans prohibit ALL open-air burning, including campfires, outdoor grills, and leaf / debris piles.

Please note, sometimes non-state entities use language differently than we do (media or local governments, for example), so if you have any doubts about what something means or the restrictions/regulations/bans in place, always ask!

Yes, you can burn natural disaster debris. Please follow the below guidelines established by the Tennessee Department of Environment & Conservation when doing so:

  • Make a reasonable effort to remove all expressly prohibited materials from the natural disaster remains before ignition. Expressly prohibited materials include tires and other rubber products, vinyl shingles and siding, other plastics, asphalt shingles and other asphalt roofing materials, and/or asbestos containing materials
  • Ensure that a traffic hazard will not be caused by the air contaminants generated by the fire
  • Refrain from igniting a fire while any pollution emergency episode is in effect in the area of the burn.  (Visit     AirNow.Gov for current air quality conditions.)
  • Ensure that no other safe and/or practical means of disposal is available

Tips for Conducting a Safe Debris Burn

Escaped debris burns are the leading cause of wildfires in the US and in Tennessee. That's why your efforts to conduct your debris burns safely are critical to preventing wildfires in Tennessee.

Remember, wildfire prevention begins with you!

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If you are burning wooded land be sure to let adjacent landowners know of your plans to burn at least 2 days in advance. This will help your neighbors and keep you in compliance with the law. 

raked fireline around burn pile

Rake or plow a firebreak around the area you want to burn. Firebreaks should be clean of vegetation and wide enough to contain flames and flying embers. When burning piles the firebreak must be wide enough to catch rolling debris. The taller the vegetation the wider the firebreak should be. It should expose a swath of bare ground at least 3 feet wide through leaves or short grass. It should be at least 5 feet wide through tall grass or brush. 

Stay informed about possible weather changes. Wind and relative humidity are important weather considerations. Approaching fronts and thunderstorms may change wind directions and generate strong gusts. Outdoor burning should be postponed when winds are high, relative humidities low, and wind gusts are predicted. 

Generally, burning permits are not issued on dry, windy days. Even if you have a permit, you should stop burning if a strong wind comes up. Winds may not only carry burning embers into surrounding vegetation but also fan the flames making the fire difficult to control. 

Mornings and early evenings are usually good times to burn because winds are calmer and the relative humidity is higher. Be sure to complete your burning early enough that your smoke will disperse and does not become a health or highway hazard. 

Check Your Weather Forecast

Your fire is your responsibility! You may be liable for any damages your fire and smoke cause to other people’s property! 

Be sure you have enough help. Don’t try to burn more than you can handle by yourself. Keep debris piles small, gradually adding to the fires as they burn down. Large piles of burning debris generate intense heat capable of carrying relatively heavy embers up and across control lines. 

Select a burn location away from overhanging tree branches and overhead and underground utility lines. Intense heat from a fire could ignite leaves of trees or cause damage to branches and tree trunks. It could also damage utility lines.

Stay with your fire until it is completely out and cooled - it's the law. Your fire is always your responsibility, from the moment the match is lit to when it is dead out.

Debris Burn Permits served through this website are authorized by the State Forester pursuant to T.C.A. 39-14-306.