Outdoor Burning
COVID-19 Notice: To help reduce the load on our first responders and others, NWCAA is asking for a voluntary curtailment of woodstoves and outdoor burning. For more information click here.
Burning in Whatcom County is regulated by the International Fire Code and Washington Administrative Codes relative to air pollution requirements.
Please contact the Whatcom County Burn Information Line at 360-778-5903 for a verbal burn permit, more information, or to speak to a fire inspector.
Outdoor Burning Complaints, please click here for more information.
NOTE: If your property lies within the boundaries of Whatcom County Fire District 5 (Point Roberts), District 11 (Lummi Island) or District 17 (Sandy Point), you must contact those fire districts for information on outdoor burning regulations and to obtain permits to burn.
Permanent Burn Ban Areas
There is a permanent burn ban in effect within certain city limits and urban growth areas (UGAs). Recreational Fires are still allowed in the UGAs. The areas with permanent burn bans are:
Please contact the Whatcom County Burn Information Line at 360-778-5903 for a verbal burn permit, more information, or to speak to a fire inspector.
Outdoor Burning Complaints, please click here for more information.
NOTE: If your property lies within the boundaries of Whatcom County Fire District 5 (Point Roberts), District 11 (Lummi Island) or District 17 (Sandy Point), you must contact those fire districts for information on outdoor burning regulations and to obtain permits to burn.
Permanent Burn Ban Areas
There is a permanent burn ban in effect within certain city limits and urban growth areas (UGAs). Recreational Fires are still allowed in the UGAs. The areas with permanent burn bans are:
- City of Bellingham and surrounding UGAs
- City of Sumas and surrounding UGAs
- City of Lynden and surrounding UGAs
- Cities of Everson and Nooksack and surrounding UGAs
- City of Ferndale and surrounding UGAs
- City of Blaine and surrounding UGAs
- Urban Growth Area of Cherry Point
- Urban Growth Area of Columbia Valley
- Urban Growth Area of Birch Bay
Please click the links above to view a map of each city or Urban Growth Area that has a permanent burn ban. If the property where the fire is to be located is within on of these areas, you can ONLY have a recreational fire. If you are outside of these areas, please go to the burn permit rules page for more information on how to obtain a permit to burn yard debris or land-clearing debris