for City of Albany, City of Millersburg, & Albany Fire Protection Districts (OAR 340-264-0078)
Please be respectful of your neighbors when conducting any type of open burning. The Albany Fire Department’s responsibility is to protect the public from hazardous fire conditions and is not responsible for regulating or controlling smoke issues.
Open burning information line:
541-451-1904
(updated daily by 8:30 a.m.)
Report illegal open burning and nuisance smoke issues:
1-888-997-7888
or report online
Oregon DEQ Office of Compliance and Enforcement
811 Sixth Avenue, Portland, OR 97204-1390
For more information, visit the Linn County Fire Defense Board on Facebook.
Exempt
(OAR 340-264-0030, ORS 468A.020)
- Recreational & ceremonial fires (acceptable materials ONLY)
- Barbecue equipment (acceptable materials ONLY)
- Agricultural open burning (related to agricultural operations; the growing or harvesting of crops; and the raising of fowl or animals)
- Open field burning
- Propane flaming
- Stack & pile burning
Recreational burning requirements:
Fires for pleasure, cooking, ceremonial, or similar purposes
Maximum size:
- 3 feet in diameter
- 2 feet in height
Acceptable materials*:
- dried wood
- natural dimensional lumber scraps
- charcoal
- propane
- natural gas
Required separations from a structure:
- Ground placed: 25 ft
- Portable outdoor fireplaces: 15 ft
- Barbecue/fire pit: 10 ft
- Barbecues and fire pits must be commercially manufactured, or constructed of concrete or approved non-combustible materials
* Burning of these materials does not meet the DEQ definition of materials that emit dense smoke or noxious odors.
Restricted
DEQ authorized "burn days":
- Spring: March 1-June 15
- Fall: October 1-December 15
No permit is required for:
- Backyard debris which includes wood, needle or leaf materials from trees, shrubs or plants from the real property immediately adjacent to a dwelling of not more than four family living units.
- Agricultural burning not related to open burning of grass seed and cereal grain field residue may require an inspection by the Albany Fire Department.
No-cost registration and/or a permit is required for:
- Bonfires must be checked by Albany Fire Department prior to burning.
- Agricultural open burning related to open burning of a grass seed and cereal grain residue. Must contact Oregon Department of Agriculture (503-986-4701) for a permit.
Backyard burning requirements:
Call Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) daily burn message each day.
Fire management:
- Burn dried materials to reduce smoke
- Never use gasoline to start a fire
- Must be constantly attended by a responsible person until extinguished
- Shall have an attached water hose or a 4-A rated fire extinguisher and extinguishing tools available
- Fires must be of a manageable size
Required separations from a structure:
- 3 ft diameter by 2 ft high piles: 25 ft
- Burn barrels: 25 ft
- Uncontained piles: 50 ft
Illegal
(OAR 340-264-0110)
The following are only allowed with a Letter Permit issued by Oregon DEQ* and the requirements and prohibitions of the Albany Fire Department and State Fire Marshal:
- Industrial
- Commercial
- Construction
- Slash
- Demolition waste (any useless or discarded materials)
- Structural
- Land clearing
- Domestic
Contact DEQ at 800-349-7677 for more information.
These materials must NEVER be burned:
- Wet garbage
- Plastic
- Asbestos
- Wire insulation
- Automobile parts
- Asphalt
- Petroleum-treated materials
- Painted wood and wood treated with creosote or pentachlorophenol
- Rubber products including tires
- Animal remains
- Animal or vegetable matter resulting from the handling, preparation, cooking, or service of food
- Any other material that emits dense smoke or noxious odors
*Subject to OAR 340-264-0050, 340-264-0060, and 340-264-0070.
Download as a pdf
Additional contacts
- Oregon DEQ main line: 800-349-7677
- Oregon Department of Agriculture: 503-986-4701
