Residential Burning Permits

Residential burning is allowed by permit only and is only allowed within certain areas of the Enumclaw Fire Department district. Before proceeding with acquiring a permit you must verify your residence is located in an area where residential burning is allowed, click here to verify.  Due to city ordinance, residential burning is prohibited within the city limits of Enumclaw.  You may obtain a permit by completing the form below or by visiting our Administration Office located at 2884 Griffin Ave Suite-A, Enumclaw during business hours ONLY (Monday-Friday 8:00am-4:00pm).

Permit Fee: $30/year (Age 60+ $15/year)

Payment Type: Check or Credit Card

Permit Conditions

• Burning is only allowed during daylight hours.
• A water source is required to be on site at all times.
• Natural vegetation is the only material allowed to be burned.
• Only one pile is allowed to be burned at a time.
• The maximum pile dimensions are 10 feet wide and 4 feet in height.
• Burn piles are required to be a minimum of 10 feet away from property lines.
• Burn piles are required to be 50 feet away from any structures.
• Burn piles must be extinguished whenever there is a storm that results in east winds.
• A copy of the permit must be kept onsite at all times.

Prohibited Items

• Burning processed lumber of any type is prohibited.
• Burning garbage is prohibited.
• Burning “green” or wet debris is prohibited.
• Burning tree limbs larger than 4” (inches) in diameter is prohibited.
• Burning stumps is prohibited.
• Burning materials hauled in from another site is prohibited (other than fire wood).
• Burn barrels are prohibited.

BURN PERMIT APPLICATION FORM

Clean & Efficient Burning = No Nuisance Smoke

Tips for Best Burning Practices

1. CHECK BEFORE YOU BURN: Although many of the days during the designated burning months will be “Burn Days”, impaired air quality or fire danger may necessitate a burn ban. Please call the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency burn hotline at 1-800-595-4341 to confirm there is not a burn ban in effect before burning, or check their website at pscleanair.org.
2. PILE THE DEBRIS: Piling the debris creates a chimney effect during burning and preheats the debris. Hot fires and dry fuel produces less smoke. Remove as much dirt a possible from the debris as you pile it. Dirt in the pile prevents the fire from burning hot and efficiently.
3. BURN DRY DEBRIS: For best results and a cleaner fire, burn when your debris is dry. Cover piles with tree boughs, paper or plastic to keep the debris dry until you are ready to burn. Be sure to remove the paper or plastic prior to burning.
4. GIVE IT AIR: Directing a fan or leaf blower into your fire will help it burn hotter, with less smoke. Plus, you have the added bonus of getting the pile burned in half the time.
5. CHOOSE THE RIGHT WEATHER FOR BURNING: Cloudy days usually have light winds and are the best days to burn. Because air tends to be unstable, there is generally enough air movement on cloudy days to disperse the smoke and avoid causing nuisance smoke. Do not burn when the wind is blowing the smoke towards your neighbor’s homes. Do not burn if there is, or a forecast calls for, thunderstorms, showers, or weather fronts.
6. START THE FIRE AT MIDDAY OR IN EARLY AFTERNOON: Avoid burning when it is foggy. Fog is a sign of stable air that will not disperse the smoke into the atmosphere. If you must burn on clear days start the fire in the afternoon. There is often not enough air movement on clear days to disperse the smoke from your fires.
7. FINISH BURNING BEFORE NIGHTTIME: As temperatures begin to cool later in the day, the air tends to sink. This carries the smoke from your fire down into valleys and low areas. Smoke from your fire may be trapped near the ground during the night and early morning when cool air pools near the ground. This is called an inversion (cool air beneath warm air). Plan to have your burning completed before inversions create a smoke nuisance for your neighbors.