Outdoor Burning
Fire Department is Issuing Burn Permits
for Outdoor Yard Debris Burning
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​Outdoor Yard Debris Burning Permits are available from the Fire Department from October 1 though June 14.
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For those individuals who live in the areas of the Fall City rural town center and the Lake Alice communities, permits will be valid for one month from October 1 - October 31, 2024, and again in the Spring from April 1 - April 30, 2025.
Please click on the link to the map below to determine your area.
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Click here to view the Outdoor Residential Burning Map
To obtain a burn permit you can email your request to king27@king27fire.com or call us at
425-222-5841 or stop by the fire station.
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Recreational fires, used for cooking, pleasure, or ceremonial purposes that occur on private property do not require a permit and are currently allowed in the Fire District.
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The fire must be built in a metal or concrete fire pit, such as those typically found in designated campgrounds.
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Maximum size is 3 feet in diameter x 2 feet in height.
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Only seasoned, dry firewood, presto type logs, or charcoal may be burned.
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The fire must be attended by an adult and adequate water to put the fire out must be available.
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The fire pit should be located in a clear area, free from any ground vegetation or overhanging branches, with a minimum setback of ten (10) feet. Fire bowls, fire chimneys, or similar freestanding devices and barbecues fall under this definition.
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It is always illegal to smoke out your neighbors. If smoke from your fire bothers your neighbors, damages their property or otherwise causes a nuisance, you must immediately put it out.
If a Stage 2 Burn Ban is issued no outdoor burning is allowed.
​​​Firewise -Wildfire Safety Brochure
Firewise Website
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Do I need a permit to burn?Yes - Outdoor residential yard debris burning requires a permit from the Fire Department. You can stop by the fire station, e-mail us at king27@king27fire.com or call the Fire Department at 425-222-5841 to obtain a permit. A recreational fire does not require a permit.
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Is there a permit fee?No.
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What are the size limitations and setback requirements for a residential yard debris burn pile?The burn pile cannot exceed 4 feet in diameter by 3 feet in height and the fire must be at least 50 feet away from any structure.
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What materials can I burn?Only natural vegetation, yard debris, clippings and branches originating from your property.
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Other Rules that Apply:The person responsible for the fire must contact the Fire Department each day to inquire about burning conditions prior to igniting the fire. A person capable of extinguishing the fire must attend it at all times, and it must be extinguished before leaving it. Burning is to be conducted during day light hours only.
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Do I need a permit to burn?Yes - Outdoor residential yard debris burning requires a permit from the Fire Department. You can stop by the fire station, e-mail us at king27@king27fire.com or call the Fire Department at 425-222-5841 to obtain a permit. A recreational fire does not require a permit.
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Is there a permit fee?No.
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What are the size limitations and setback requirements for a residential yard debris burn pile?The burn pile cannot exceed 4 feet in diameter by 3 feet in height and the fire must be at least 50 feet away from any structure.
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What materials can I burn?Only natural vegetation, yard debris, clippings and branches originating from your property.
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Other Rules that Apply:The person responsible for the fire must contact the Fire Department each day to inquire about burning conditions prior to igniting the fire. A person capable of extinguishing the fire must attend it at all times, and it must be extinguished before leaving it. Burning is to be conducted during day light hours only.
Burn Barrels are Illegal
Land clear burning is no longer allowed in King, Pierce, Kitsap and Snohomish Counties.
Violations Carry Stiff Penalties
If you violate outdoor burning regulations you can be fined a minimum fine of $2,000 plus the cost of the Fire Department’s response.
►► ► Recreational Fires are prohibited during an air quality or fire danger phase 2 burn ban.
Contact the Fire Department before you burn to determine if there is a burn ban in effect or if the regulations have changed in your area - 425-222-5841.
Recreational Fires
Are defined as cooking fires, campfires, and bonfires using charcoal or firewood that occur in designated areas or on private property for cooking, pleasure or ceremonial purposes.
A permit is not required for a recreational fire. Fires lit in chimneys, fire bowls, similar free standing devices and barbecues also fall under this definition.
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Fires must not exceed three feet in diameter or two feet in height. Only dry seasoned firewood, charcoal, or manufactured fire logs may be used.
The area should be clear of vegetation that could allow the fire to spread and must have minimum setbacks of (10) ten feet. The fire must be attended by an adult and adequate water to put the fire out must be available.
Compost it Instead
You can convert dead leaves and grass clippings into healthy food for your landscape. Composting is a convenient and affordable way to manage yard waste, creating nutrient rich mulch that will improve your soil and the health of your plants. Home composting also serves as an invaluable educational tool, teaching youngsters about conservation, the cycle of life, and inter-connectedness of the natural world.
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Items Ideal for Composting:
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Grass Clippings Leaves
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Egg Shells Vegetable waste
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Plant prunings Coffee grounds
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Wood Chips Tea bags
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Small branches Cardboard - (remove any tape)
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For more recycling and composting information go to:
Recycling Yard Debris
Tree, brush, yard debris and non treated wood can be recycled at the following locations for a nominal fee:​
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Cedar Falls Transfer Station
16925 Cedar Falls Rd SE, North Bend, WA 98045
206-296-4466 King County Solid Waste-Cedar Falls
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Cedar Grove Composting
17825 Cedar Grove Rd, Maple Valley, WA 98038
1-877-764-5748 www.cedar-grove.com
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Yard waste pick-up
May be available from your local refuse company.
Contact Republic Waste Disposal 1-800-221-4508
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Fire District 27 does not endorse the providers listed. The list is provided as a courtesy to the public.
The Puget Sound Clean Air Agency
Changes to outdoor burning regulations will continue to occur as population densities increase
and alternatives to burning are made more available. The Puget Sound Clean Air Agency has adopted state outdoor
burning regulations and enforces them in King, Kitsap, Pierce and Snohomish Counties.
For text of regulations and additional information www.pscleanair.org