Commercial Burn Permit

 Rules and Regulations for Commercial Burning:

  • Burning shall not be started prior to 0700.
  • Burning after dark is expressly prohibited.
  • Permits are not transferable.
  • Applicants must call each day during permit period prior to ignition.
  • Permit shall be revoked if provisions are not met.
  • The burning of tires, toxic materials, noxious matter, roofing materials, leaves, pine straw, treated lumber, plastics, paper-based products, petroleum-based products, or any other materials considered hazardous shall not be allowed.
  • Burns shall not be conducted under electrical service or any type of overhead service.
  • Burn piles shall be limited to a manageable size (20 feet by 20 feet maximum height of 12 feet)
  • Burn piles less than 3 feet in diameter and 2 feet in height are allowable not less than 50 feet from any structure.
  • Only one pile may be burned at a time (feed piles are allowed)
  • Means to control the fire shall be maintained on-site at all times.
  • The fire shall be attended constantly by a competent person until the fire is extinguished (put out, quenched or smothered).
  • Provisions shall be made to prevent fire spread
  • Fires must be a minimum of 50 feet from any public roadway.
  • Burn pile must not be closer than 250 feet to adjacent property structures. And must be a minimum of 200 feet from structures on the burn site.
  • Fire in approved containers shall be a minimum of 50 feet from any structure
  • The permit shall become void and all burning shall cease when atmospheric conditions or local circumstances make such fires hazardous.
  • In the event of damage to property of others the permit holder accepts full responsibility and liability for all charges resulting from the burn. (Smoke, fire, ash or particulate matter)
  • The final determination on burning is at the sole discretion of the Opelika Fire Department as long as they are compliant with ADEM and the Alabama Fire Marshal's office guidelines.


To have one of our inspectors come out and look at your site, call 334-705-5300.