Larimer County:
No burn permits will be issued May 1st – September 30th for properties within Larimer County with an elevation of 6000 ft and over.
Most outdoor burning in Larimer County requires a permit signed by both your local fire department and the Larimer County Department of Health and Environment. The fire department evaluates applications for potential fire safety issues, while the health department evaluates air quality issues that can impact human health. Open burning in Larimer County is regulated by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment/Air Pollution Control Division under Colorado Air Quality Control Commission’s Regulation One and Regulation Nine. Open burning without a permit is illegal and can result in fines of up to $10,000 per day.
Prior to burning, you must first obtain a permit from Larimer County Health Department. Their website gives specific information about open burning in Larimer County and allows an applicant to fill out an on-line permit application and submit it electronically. Additionally, it is recommended that digital photos of the material you’re requesting to burn be attached or downloaded onto the application. Read the information on the page, and then scroll towards the bottom to begin the online application process. After you have submitted your request for your permit, the county will then approve/disapprove your request. You will receive an email of this notification letting you know its status. The required authorities here at the fire department also receive the same email and will then review the permit and give the final approval/disapproval.
To obtain a permit, visit Larimer County’s website here or contact the Health Department at 970-498-6775.
A permit application form may also be printed, filled out and mailed to:
Larimer County Department of Health and Environment
1525 Blue Spruce Dr.
Fort Collins, CO 80524
PLEASE review the following information which apply to ALL burn permits issued:
Documents to review prior to applying
Prohibited Materials
- Routine yard and garden clean-up waste
- Structures
- Construction debris
- Household garbage
- Materials that produce excessive smoke (cattails, leaves, plastic, tires, etc.)
- Commercial/Business waste
- Stumps
Safety Guidelines
- Pile debris in open areas away from standing timber and structures.
- Piles should be no larger than 8-10 feet in diameter at the base and 6 feet high.
- There shall be no burning when current or expected winds exceed 10 miles per hour.
- Fires must be constantly attended by a competent and non-impaired person.
- Always have water, a rake, and a shovel available.
- Attend all fires until completely out.
- All burning must be extinguished by nightfall.
Slash Burning
Slash burning in the foothills and mountains (elevations 6000 ft and over) MUST take place only with 3 or more inches of snow cover. The open burning season is from October 1 thru May 1, and is ALWAYS dependent upon favorable conditions existing (3 inches+ of snow on ground, light wind, daylight burning only) before ignition can occur. The General Open Burn Permit is typically used for wildfire mitigation or land stewardship efforts by mountain landowners and has a limit of 50 slash piles or less per year. Slash is defined as clean dry branches four inches or less in diameter, not containing other smoke producing materials, a slash pile size is ~ 6′ high X 8′ diameter. Applications will not be processed until one week before the start of the open burn period.
A Specialty Burn Permit must be obtained for conducting agricultural ditch burns, bon fires, or other fires containing non-prohibited materials. These are reviewed at the local fire department. Attaching digital photos for review of material types and specific safety guidelines is encouraged and may expedite the permitting process.
ORDINANCE CONCERNING THE RESTRICTION OF OPEN FIRES, CONATAINED FIRES, AND FIREWORKS. (CLICK HERE)