Open Burn Permit
OPEN BURN AND APPLICATION GUIDELINES
Download the open burn permit here
Definitions:
Open Burning:
It is the burning of any materials wherein the products of combustion are emitted directly into the ambient air without passing through a stack or chimney from an enclosed chamber. For this purpose, a chamber shall be regarded as enclosed, when, during the time combustion occurs, only apertures, ducts, stacks, flues, or chimneys are necessary to provide combustion air and permit the escape of exhaust gas open.
Ceremonial Fire:
A bonfire that may not exceed 5’ high x 5’ wide with a duration of no more than three hours. May not be used for waste disposal purposes.
Recreational Fire:
Includes barbecues, campfires, and cookouts. These are outdoor fires utilized to cook food for human consumption. May not exceed 2’ high x 3’ wide. May only use clean, seasoned firewood or equivalent. May not be used for waste disposal purposes.
Occupational Fire:
Welding torches, heating tar, heating for warmth of outdoor workers or strikers. May not be used for waste disposal purposes.
Agricultural Waste Fires:
Includes plant matter such as tree trimmings, stumps, brush, weeds, leaves, grass, shrubbery, and materials from crops or livestock production. This includes fence posts and scrap lumber but does not include buildings, land clearing waste, dead animals, or animal feces. These fires must be a minimum of 1000’ from a neighbor’s building. All these approved items must have been generated on the property.
Land Clearing Waste:
This means plant waste material is removed from the land, including plant waste material removed from stream banks during projects involving more than one property owner, for the purpose of rendering the land useful for residential, commercial, or industrial development. Land clearing waste also includes the plant waste material generated during the clearing of land for new agricultural development. Updated 7-26-22
Residential Waste Fires:
Plant matter such as tree trimmings, stumps, brush, weeds, leaves, grass, shrubbery, and crop residues. Also includes wastes such as wood or paper products that are generated by 1-2-3 family residences. These items must have been generated on the property and the fire must be a minimum of 1000’ from a neighbor’s building.
Burning of the Following is Never Allowed:
- Garbage – (i.e., food waste)
- Any materials containing rubber, grease, asphalt, or liquid petroleum products. (i.e., tires, cars, auto parts, plastics, plastic-coated wire, or building materials)
- Dead animals or animal waste
Other Restrictions:
- Open burning is not allowed when pollution warnings, alerts, or emergencies are in effect.
- Fires cannot obscure visibility on roadways, railroad tracks, or airfields
- No waste can be brought in from another property to be burned.
- O.R.C. 1503.18 prohibits all open burning in the State of Ohio during the months of March, April, May, October, and November between the hours of 6 a.m. and 6 p.m.
Restricted versus Unrestricted Areas:
Restricted Areas:
Any area within one mile of the City of Perrysburg’s border. Any area within 1000 feet of the Cities of Rossford or Northwood
Allowed Burning:
- Recreational Fires (No permit required)
- Occupational Fires (No permit required)
- Ceremonial Fires (Permit from the Fire Department and completion of an EPA notification form are required)
- Land or wildlife management Fires: (Permit from the Fire Department and completion of an EPA notification form are
required)
Unrestricted Areas:
Any area outside the boundaries noted above.
Allowed Burning:
- Recreational Fires (No permit required)
- Occupational Fires (No permit required)
- Ceremonial Fires (Fire Department Permit Required)
- Agricultural Waste (Permit from the Fire Department and completion of an EPA notification form are required if the burn pile is greater than 20’ in diameter and 10’ high)
- Land Clearing Waste: Permits from the Fire Department and the EPA are required.
- Residential Waste: (Permit from the Fire Department completion of an EPA notification form are required if the burn pile is greater than 10’x10’x10’)
- Land or wildlife management Fires: (Permit from the Fire department completion of an EPA notification form for prairie burns are required))
Location for Open Burning:
The location for any open burning shall not be less than 50’ from any structure, and provisions shall be made to prevent the fire from spreading to within 50’ of any structure. Fires in approved containers shall not be less than 15’ from any structure.
Note: These distances apply only where greater separation distances are not specifically listed or required by other regulations.
Attendance and Fire Control:
Any open burning shall be constantly attended to until the fire is completely extinguished. At least one portable fire extinguisher with a minimum 4-A rating, two fire extinguishers with a 2-A rating, or other approved on-site fire extinguishing equipment such as dirt, and water barrel, garden hose, or water truck. These items shall be immediately available for utilization throughout the burn.
Prohibited Open Burning:
The Ohio Department of Natural Resources prohibits open burning between the hours of 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. during the months of March, April, May, October, and November of each year. Open burning that is or will be offensive or objectionable due to smoke or odor emissions or when atmospheric conditions or other circumstances make such fires hazardous are also not permitted. No open burning shall be conducted in the area where an air alert, warning, or emergency is in effect. Materials that may not be burned anywhere in Ohio at any time include materials containing rubber, grease, asphalt, liquid petroleum products, tires, cars, auto parts, plastics, or plastic-coated wire, garbage, dead animals, and building materials.
Permit Applications May Be Submitted Electronically at: kfeeney@perrysburgtownship.us
The full text of OFC Rule 31 is available for viewing at: https://codes.ohio.gov/ohio-administrative-code/rule-1301:7-7-03
The Ohio EPA’s rules, regulations, etc. can be found at: https://epa.ohio.gov/divisions-and-offices/air-pollution-control/permitting/open-burning
Additional information on open burning can also be obtained by contacting the local Ohio EPA
Air Pollution Control Environmental Specialist, Melissa Boyers, at 419-373-3115 or melissa.boyers@epa.ohio.gov
Perrysburg Township Bureau of Fire Prevention
Fire Inspector: Keith Feeney
Office Hours: M-F 8:00-4:30
Phone: 419-872-8850 (o)
Email: kfeeney@perrysburgtownship.us
O.A.C. 1301:7-7-03 (Ohio Fire Code Open Burning Regulations)
OFC Rule 03 (Ohio Fire Code Open Burning Regulations)
O.A.C. 3745-19 (EPA Open Burning Regulations)
O.R.C. 1503.18 (ODNR Open Burning Regulations)
Download the open burn permit here
