Permits for Broadcast and Pile Burns
To conduct a prescribed burn in Washington state, including both broadcast and pile burns, you will most likely need to secure a burn permit from the Washington Department of Natural Resources (DNR).
Broadcast Burn
If you are conducting a broadcast prescribed burn, you want to complete a burn plan to submit alongside your permit.
Learn more about burn plans here.
Piles Burns
If you are conducting pile burns you will need to determine if you are conducting a Rule Burn (which does not require a permit) or a Permit Burn (which does require a permit).
Review DNR’s Burn Permit webpage for more information.
Regardless if you are conducting a broadcast or pile burn, you are required to know and follow all applicable laws and regulations.
DNR Burn Portal
To apply for a permit or submit a burn request, follow the instructions on the DNR Burn Portal website. Additional links provide helpful information to the DNR Smoke Management Plan, applicable laws, weather links, and more.
DNR Burn Portal:
Burn Portal instructional video:
Agricultural/Other Outdoor Burning
Agricultural burning is managed by the Washington Department of Ecology. If you are doing a broadcast burn on farmland you will need to go through their permitting process. The resources and information on this permitting page primarily concern burns that go through DNR’s permitting.
Agricultural burn permit information:
Fees
For any burn that requires a permit from DNR, you will be required to pay a fee based on the amount of material that you are burning. You can find the Fee Schedule on the DNR Burn Portal.
Burn Bans
You are responsible for knowing and following your local burn restrictions. These restrictions can occur at the state, county, local, or Tribal level.
Fire Safety Burn Bans
These burn bans restrict activities when wildfire danger is high. Review the stipulations of your permit. You should also check with your local fire district, county, and Tribe for further restrictions as applicable.
DNR Burn Restrictions:
Air Quality Burn Bans
When air quality is poor, the Washington Department of Ecology and local clean air agencies will issue air quality burn bans. You will need to determine if your county’s air quality is managed by Ecology or a local clean air agency.
Ecology Burn Ban Information (includes link to local clean air agencies)
