Backyard Burn PermitsRegulations for open burning on property within the Salem-Keizer Urban Growth Boundary (UGB) under Marion County jurisdiction
*Yard debris is defined as wood, stalk, stem, needle or leaf material from trees, shrubs, plants and lawnsAre there any exclusions to the prohibition on open burning?Yes. The prohibition of open burning of waste or yard debris does not include:
"Agricultural operation" is defined in Ordinance #1279 as (a) an activity on land currently used or intended to be used primarily for the purpose of obtaining a profit in money by raising, harvesting and selling crops and selling livestock or poultry, or the produce thereof, and (b) activities conducted by not-for-profit agricultural research organizations.Are there any permitted exceptions to these prohibitions?Yes. The prohibition of open burning of waste or yard debris does not include the following activities, provided that, prior to burning, a permit is issued by Marion County, and all materials to be burned conform to the requirements and/or limitations specified in the permit:
If I qualify under an exception, where do I apply for a permit?The Marion County Planning Division issues Backyard Burn Permits. You can download a Backyard Burn Permit application or obtain one from the office. Our goal is to issue the permit the same day you apply. However, depending on the size and duration of your request, it may take longer. The application form requires the following information:
Is there a fee for this permit?Yes. The permit fee is $40 with an annual renewal fee of $25. A permit is good for the current calendar year. What is the process once a permit application has been submitted?Planning Division staff will review the application for compliance with Ordinance #1279 and other applicable regulations. Depending on the size and duration of the proposed burn, staff may request comments from other County departments or affected agencies. The application will be approved or conditionally approved if it clearly complies with all regulations. If not, the application will be denied. If all necessary information is provided at the time the application is submitted, the permit will be approved or denied on the same day, if possible. If not, a copy of permit will be sent to the applicant indicating whether the permit is approved or denied, in approximately 1-10 days. When can I burn?Assuming you qualify under one of the exceptions listed above and have obtained your Backyard Burn Permit, you are permitted to burn yard debris, only, on Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) authorized burn days during daylight hours of 7:30 a.m. to two hours prior to sunset. What can I burn?Ordinance #1279 allows only open burning of yard debris which is defined as wood, stalk, stem, needle or leaf material from trees, shrubs, plants and lawns. The Ordinance does not allow open burning of waste which includes garbage, paper, clothing, plastic, and food waste.What happens if my neighbor is violating these regulations?This Ordinance is enforced by Marion County Public Works, through the Sheriff's Office Code Enforcement section. When a complaint is received, an Enforcement Officer will conduct an inspection to determine whether a violation is or has occurred. A citation may be issued to any person in violation, which includes fines and civil penalties. For more information on filing a complaint, contact Code Enforcement at (503) 373-4333 or email at enforcement@co.marion.or.us. What are the regulations outside the Salem-Keizer UGB?If you live or own property outside of the Salem-Keizer Urban Growth Boundary, you will need to contact your local fire department for information on their burning regulations and permits.For more information:Marion County Fire District #1State of Oregon Department of Environmental Quality - open backyard burning information.Marion County Environmental Services Recycling - information and resources available to recycle various materials not allowed to be burned.Marion County Environmental Services Backyard Burning - general information on burning in your backyard."Marion County Backyard Burning Regulations" - handy brochure containing the information from this webpage.