A burn permit is required for all open fires in Suwannee County, except cooking fires. All permits are issued and controlled by Florida Forestry Service. Landowners and contractors can apply for a burn permit for land clearing and other farming or agricultural operations.

The Florida Forestry Service can be reached at 386-243-6243

Below are the requirements for Burn Permits/Authorizations

Burning Authorization is REQUIRED for …Agricultural, silvicultural, land clearing, pile, and acreage burning all require a burning authorization from the Florida Forest Service.

Are NOT REQUIRED… to burn yard waste as long as you meet the required setbacks and there are no local, city, or county ordinances in place that prohibits burning.

What is yard waste?

Yard waste is vegetative debris such as grass clippings, brush, leaves, tree limbs, palm fronds, etc., that are a result of yard maintenance. You may burn yard waste as long as:

• You meet the required setbacks and no local city or county ordinances prohibit burning,
• The yard waste was generated on your property and it will fit in an 8-foot diameter pile or non-combustible container,
• Your fire is ignited after 8:00 AM Central Time or 9:00 AM Eastern Time and is extinguished one hour before sunset,
• Smoke is not a hazard or nuisance</li/>
• Clear an area down to bare soil around your pile to prevent the fire from spreading.
• Cover a non-combustible container with wire mesh to keep sparks from flying out and starting new fires.

NOTE: Piles greater than 8 feet in diameter will require a 1) authorization from the Florida Forest Service, 2) must have suppression equipment on hand, and 3) need to meet additional setback requirements.

Required Setbacks for Yard Waste Burning

• 25 feet from forests
• 50 feet from paved public roads
• 25 feet from your house
• 150 feet from other occupied buildings

It is illegal to burn household garbage including paper products, treated lumber, plastics, rubber materials, tires, pesticides, paint, and aerosol containers.