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Burn Permits
The City of Huntsville, by city ordinance, allows outdoor burning within the city limits. In order to burn in the city limits a burning permit is required. The burn permits are issued on line through the fire department website under the direction of the Fire Marshal, not the permit division of the city.
Burning Permit Information
Burning permits are no longer required in person; they may be obtained online.
How to Obtain a Burning Permit:
- Create a Profile in Community Connect: (https://www.communityconnect.io/info/tx-huntsville)
- You must have a valid email address and physical address to register.
- Include your name and phone number in your profile.
- Apply for a Permit:
- Click "Apply for Permit."
- Select the appropriate permit type by clicking the drop-down menu and choosing "Residential Permit."
- Complete the Permit Application:
- Click the arrow next to "Permit Application Questions" and answer all required fields.
- Read and digitally sign the agreement, confirming that you understand and will follow all permit rules.
- Permit Approval:
- All permits are automatically approved for 60 days upon submission.
- Notify Dispatch Before Burning:
- Each time before you burn, you MUST call Non-Emergency Dispatch at 936-435-8000.
Burning Permit Rules:
- Only natural debris, such as sticks and leaves, may be burned.
- Plastics, processed lumber, tires, and mattresses are strictly prohibited.
- Fires must be small and manageable.
- All burning must be extinguished entirely before nightfall.
Additional Information:
- Permits can be obtained by phone under specific circumstances.
- Citizens with disabilities or elderly individuals may seek assistance from the fire station. Fire station locations and contact information are on our Fire Station page.
- The permit form is available on mobile devices and can be accessed from any public internet location for those without internet access.
- Fire department staff may be unavailable to assist with permits during emergencies or training.
- Burning within the city is illegal without a valid permit.
Click the link below to create your profile and apply for a permit.
Burning in the City of Huntsville, and the State of Texas, is highly regulated by statutes and ordinances set forth by local council, state legislature, U.S. legislature, and federal regulating agencies.
Burning permits issued locally by the fire department contain the rules and regulations of the City of Huntsville.
Some of these rules are as follows. Please refer to an actual permit for a complete list.
- No Burning At Night: The City of Huntsville does not allow outdoor burning after daylight hours within the city limits.
- No Burning of Household Garbage: The City of Huntsville does not allow for the burning of household garbage. By statute, the burning of household garbage is not allowed if garbage pickup is offered by the governing body of the area in question.
- Residential Burning Only: The permits to burn within the city limits allows for small, residential, burning only. Commercial Burning is not authorized by a City issued burning permit. Commercial burning must follow strict burning regulations adopted by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.
- Small Burn Piles Only: In the interest of safety, only small burn piles are permitted. Typically, a 4' x 4' pile is a good rule of thumb. Although the size of the pile is not regulated by ordinance, the safety and well being of all property, and persons, will be considered by the fire department.
- Agreement by Permit Holder to Extinguish: By obtaining a permit to burn you must agree to the terms and conditions. A condition of the permit is that if a complaint is received by you, the permit holder, or the fire department, that you agree to extinguish the fire in question.
- Right to Revoke: The fire department, under the authority of the Fire Chief/Fire Marshal, reserves the right to revoke a permit to burn. If this is done a new permit must be issued prior to any additional burning can be conducted. Typically, a representative of the administrative staff will conduct a site evaluation prior to a new permit being issued.
As a citizen you have the right to report suspicious and/or possible illegal outdoor fires. If you feel that a fire is questionable, there are two ways to report this.
- Call the fire station. Personnel are available to answer your questions, and respond if needed.
- Call the non-emergency number for the Walker County Emergency Communications Center. This will connect you to a dispatcher who can send the appropriate fire units. This number is (936)435-8001.
Please, DO NOT attempt to confront a person who you believe is burning illegally. The fire department, and dispatch center, will keep your identity confidential if a complaint is received. The fire department will respond to investigate, and will enforce code under the direction of the Fire Marshal, if needed. The fire department is supported, and works closely with the Huntsville Police Department, and other local law enforcement, who will respond and assist if a need arises.