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OPEN BURNING PERMIT (Slash Burns - Form BC-01)

Sections I must be filled out and submitted to Boulder County Public Health (BCPH) for final authorization for slash (clean, dry branches less than 3" in diameter)burns. This application addresses air quality issues only. Please check with your local fire department for their recommendations on fire safety.

Complete the following form. All fields marked with an asterisk (*) are required before submission. Once you have completed all required fields and have read the attached information, you will need to click the "submit" button at the bottom of this page.

BURN PERMIT RESTRICTIONS
No permits will be issued for:
Burning trash in Boulder County.
Burning within any city limits.
Paul Nor Subdivision
Louisville Fire District
Coal Creek Fire District unless there is 4” of snow on the ground to burn.

I. General Information

II. Terms of Authorization for Permitted Burns

NOTE: Boulder County Public Health and its employees or agents thereof, in issuing this permit, do not assume any responsibility or liability for any hazardous condition(s) created by the permittee which result in damage to the person or property of any third person. Boulder County Public Health shall have final authority for issuing or denying this permit. The Colorado Air Quality Control Commission’s Regulation No. 9 prohibits open burning unless an open burning permit has first been obtained. In granting or denying any such permit, Boulder County Public Health shall base permit approval on the potential contribution of the burn to air pollution in the area, climate conditions of the day or days of such burning, and satisfaction that there is no practical alternative method for the disposal of the material to be burned. All applicable state and local regulations must be met. This permit is for compliance with the State of Colorado air pollution control requirements only and is not a permit to violate any existing state or local laws, rules, regulations, or ordinances regarding fire, zoning, or building.

III. Exempt Burns

Please fill out the "General Information" section above and select which type of exempt burn (below). No authorization is required for exempt burns:

Agricultural (what is this?)
Recreational (what is this?)
Training (what is this?)
Not exempt  

Agricultural Burns – The open burning of ground cover vegetation for the purpose of preparing the soil for crop production and livestock grazing, for the clearing of irrigation ditches and fence lines, and for controlling noxious weeds for “commercial agricultural operations.” Commercial agricultural operations are those operations in which the growing of crops or livestock is a “gainful occupation,” such that the income received from the agricultural operation is greater than $500 per year. Properties that are “agriculturally zoned” but do not have commercial income > $500/year will not be considered “agricultural” and are not exempt. The burning of tree trimmings from commercial orchards for disease control is considered “agricultural.”

Recreational Fires – Fires used for non-commercial cooking of food for human consumption (barbeques), for instructional or religious purposes (bonfires), or for recreational purposes (campfires on private lands). This applies only to the burning of clean, dry wood (no treated wood, trash, etc.)

Training Fires – Fires utilized by fire management agencies for training exercises.

IV. CONDITIONS /RESTRICTIONS

Standard SLASH BURNS: March 1 – October 31 (Spring/Summer/Fall)

1. Materials to be burned include only clean dry slash (branches) less than 3” in diameter.
2. No household trash, weeds, leaves, stumps, or lumber shall be burned.
3. Contact Boulder County Communications at (303) 441-4444 on the day of the burn and your local fire department at least 3 days prior to burning.
4. Please call the Air Quality Bulletin at (303) 782-0211 for the daily burn index window.
5. All burning activities must be started at least 2 hours after sunrise and must be completely extinguished two hours before sunset (refer to local paper for sunrise and sunset times).
6. The permit shall be made available for inspection without unreasonable delay upon request of appropriate officials.
7. During publicly announced periods of an air pollution emergency, alert, or burning bans, all permits will be suspended in the alert areas.
8. During the month of March, please call the Air Pollution Forecast at (303) 758-4848 or go to http://apcd.state.co.us/psi/openbfst.phtml to determine if it is a RED or BLUE Air Pollution Advisory and what hours you can burn. Burning is prohibited during a RED Advisory .
9. For the Denver Ozone Attainment/Maintenance Area (including Boulder County ): No burning is allowed during an “Ozone Action Day Alert” during the months of June, July and August. Please call 303-782-0211.
10. No burn permits will be issued for the Coal Creek Canyon Fire Protection District unless there is a least four (4) inches of snow on the ground. Please call (303) 642-3121 for more information. Please call (303) 642-3121 for more information.

For more information on air quality:

• http://apcd.state.co.us/psi/main.html

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WILDFIRE MITIGATION BURNS: November 1 – March 31 (Winter)

Open burning permits will be issued during the High Pollution season for wood debris/slash generated during wildland hazardous fuel reduction activities (i.e. thinning, defensible space, and forest health) only for projects at an elevation of 6,400 feet or higher. The following conditions must be met:

1. Materials to be burned includes only clean, dry slash (branches 6” or less in diameter). No stumps, trunks or logs are allowed to be burned.
2. Burning will only occur on a BLUE day as determined by the State Air Pollution Control Division. The Air Pollution forecast can be obtained by calling (303) 758-4848. Burning is prohibited during a RED Advisory.
3. During the month of March, please call the Air Pollution Forecast at (303) 758-4848 or go to http://apcd.state.co.us/psi/openbfst.phtml to determine if it is a RED or BLUE Air Pollution Advisory and what hours you can burn. Burning is prohibited during a RED Advisory.
4. Burning can only occur between 10:00 A.M. and 4:00 P.M . Fires must be completely out without any significant residual smoke by 4:00 P.M.
5. Reasonable alternatives for disposal of the material, other than burning, do not exist.
6. Contact Boulder County Communications at (303) 441-4444 on the day of the burn and your local fire department at least 3 days prior to the burn.
7. The permit shall be made available for inspection without unreasonable delay upon request appropriate officials.
8. No burn permits will be issued for the Coal Creek Canyon Fire Protection District unless there is a least four (4) inches of snow on the ground. Please call (303) 642-3121 for more information.
9. For burns above 7000 feet: the burn may occur on BLUE or RED days if local dispersion conditions are “fair” or better. Local fire managers are responsible for obtaining information about local dispersion conditions.

For more information on air quality:

• http://apcd.state.co.us/psi/main.html

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V. Applicant Signature

By selecting "Sign" below, you agree that all of the above information is true and complete to the best of your knowledge.

I verify that this information is true to the best of my knowledge.