Florida burn bans › What is a burn ban?

What is a burn ban in Florida?

A burn ban is a legal order that prohibits or restricts outdoor burning in a county while drought and weather conditions make wildfires likely. It is not advice or a recommendation — it is enforceable, and violating one carries real penalties.

Who issues a burn ban in Florida?

In Florida, a burn ban is issued by the board of county commissioners, usually by declaring a state of local emergency under the county's emergency powers, acting under §252.38(3)(a), Florida Statutes. Each of Florida's 67 counties decides independently, which is why neighbouring counties often have different statuses on the same day.

State-level bans

Separately from county bans, the Commissioner of Agriculture may declare a drought emergency burning ban covering part or all of the state under §590.081, which makes wildland fires, campfires, bonfires and trash burning unlawful without a written Florida Forest Service permit.

How long does a burn ban last?

A state of local emergency runs for 7 days and may be extended in further 7-day increments for as long as conditions require, under §252.38(3)(a). In practice most counties review their burn ban weekly.

What does a burn ban cover?

Burn bans generally cover open outdoor burning: brush and debris piles, household trash, leaves, grass and field burning, and open campfires and bonfires. The precise list comes from the individual order.

Common exceptions

Attended cooking on a gas or charcoal grill, or in a contained cooking device, is exempt under most county orders.
Burns authorized by the Florida Forest Service — agricultural, silvicultural, prescribed and land-clearing burns — are generally exempt, because FFS authorisation is a separate statewide system.
Consumer fireworks and sparklers are often added to the prohibition rather than exempted from it. Several counties ban fireworks alongside burning.

Florida burn bans are county emergency orders, so the exceptions are written county by county. The patterns above are common but not universal.

What is the penalty?

Where a ban is issued as a local emergency order, violating it is a second-degree misdemeanor under §252.50, punishable by up to 60 days in jail and a fine of up to $500. Burning without a Florida Forest Service authorization is separately a second-degree misdemeanor under §590.125(2)(d), and you can be billed for the cost of putting the fire out.

How do I know if my county has one?

We publish the current status for all 67 Florida counties, refreshed daily from Florida Forest Service data. Find your county, or sign up below for an email the moment your county's status changes.