Open Burning Permit

Request to burn shall be made Monday - Friday.  Those wishing to burn on Saturday are asked to call M-F and asked to be placed on Saturday's List.  The Fire Marshal's Office does not have regular hours on Saturday's but does issue permits upon request.

When the Air Quality Index (AQI) is forcast to be 75 or higher anywhere in the state" a permit is not valid and burning is not allowed.


CODE OF ORDINANCES – TOWN OF WOODBURY

 
 
 
The Town of Woodbury encourages individuals to dispose of materials in the most practical and environmentally friendly manner, and in such a way that protects the health, safety and general welfare of the Town's inhabitants. This same principle applies to those items that qualify for open burning as regulated by Connecticut General Statutes Chapter 446c.
 
This article shall not supersede Connecticut regulations that apply to open burning, outside wood-burning furnaces or emissions from chimneys from buildings and/or structures.
 
As used in this article, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated: 
 
(not all the definitions contained in the ordinance are included here - please refer to the full ordinance further definitions)
 
BRUSH
Shrubs, vegetation or prunings the diameter of which is not greater than three inches in diameter at the widest point.
COMMISSIONER
The Commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection.
OPEN BURNING
The burning of any matter in such a manner that the products of combustion resulting from the burning are emitted directly into the ambient air without passing through an adequate stack or flue. [Definition from Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies § 22a-174-1(83).]
OPEN BURNING OFFICIAL
Appointed by the Town of Woodbury, has taken the CT DEEP certification course and meets the requirements under Connecticut General Statutes to enforce Connecticut open burning regulations, this article and any applicable regulations

The Fire Marshal's Office of the Town of Woodbury is authorized to enforce the provisions of this article. To assist in such enforcement, the Fire Marshal or a designee is authorized to enter any yards and open property for the purpose of detecting and initiating extinguishment of fires created without compliance with this article.
 
Whenever the Fire Marshal determines that there has been a violation of this article, he shall give written notice of such violation to the person or persons responsible for such violation. Such notice shall describe the violations charged, with specific reference to the provisions of this article, and shall outline the remedial action required to remove the violation, including the time within which such violation must be cured.
 
All applications for permits required by this article shall be made to the Fire Marshal in such form and in such detail as he/she shall prescribe, in accordance with the Connecticut General Statutes. The Fire Marshal may revoke a permit in case there has been a false statement or misrepresentation as to a material fact in such application.
 
The Fire Marshal shall issue all permits required by this article when satisfied that the activity or condition for which the permit is sought poses no threat to life, health or property. Such permits shall be valid for such period of time as appears on the face of the permit and may be withdrawn at any time on notice to the holder thereof, if, because of changed conditions, a threat to life, health and property is found to exist.
 
The following acts are prohibited:
 
A. Kindling or allowing to be kindled an outdoor fire for the purpose of burning brush collected from one's own yard.
 
B. Leaving unattended an open outdoor fire;
 
C. Kindling or allowing to be kindled an outdoor fire when the burning index as broadcast by the State DEEP is "High," "Very High," or "Extreme" and/or windy conditions exist;
 
D.Kindling or allowing to be kindled an outdoor fire when the air quality index is broadcast by the State of Connecticut DEEP as "Unhealthy to Sensitive Groups," "Unhealthy," or "Very Unhealthy";
 
E. The location or storage outside a building of any combustible material in such manner or condition as to pose a threat to life, health or property;
 
F. Kindling an outdoor fire within the traveled portion of any highway or curb area;
 
G. Bon-type fire and fire pits that are greater than three feet in diameter or more than seven square feet in area, and that have a fuel stack greater than three feet high;
 
H. Kindling or allowing to be kindled an outdoor fire for the purpose of disposing of any type of structure, including marine and aircraft, vehicles or debris from any of the foregoing; and
 
I. Kindling or allowing to be kindled an outdoor fire of brush collected from a commercial operation and brought to a residential property.
 
 
The following acts are permitted under this article, provided that a written permit is first obtained from the Fire Marshal of the Town of Woodbury:
 
A. Kindling or allowing to be kindled an outdoor fire for the purpose of burning brush collected from one's own yard.
 
B. A nonconforming fire or special use fire of a type other than listed in this article which may be required due to unique nature or condition, such as, but not limited to, a prescribed burn for forest fire control.
 
C. Fires set for the purpose of eradication or control of insect infestation or disease, agricultural purposes, clearing vegetative debris following a natural disaster, and vegetation management.
 
D. Fire suppression training fires in accordance with the following provisions:
 
(1) The burn must be exclusively for fire prevention training. The burning shall not be used as a means to dispose of waste material, including, but not limited to, tires and other hazardous materials.
 
(2) All hazardous materials must be removed and disposed of prior to conducting the fire suppression training and removed by a licensed abatement contractor in accordance with the applicable local and state regulations regarding such activities.
 
(3) At least seven days before a planned practice burn, residents within a one-thousand-foot radius of the site of the proposed burn shall be notified.
 
(4) All fire suppression training shall conform to the latest edition established by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Standard on Live Fire Training Evolutions (NFPA 1403)
 
 
 
A. The permit shall be valid only during the dates and times specified in the permit to burn.
 
B. Only those quantities and materials specified in the permit shall be burned.
 
C. Permits are available at the Fire Headquarters located at 25 Quassuk Road, Woodbury, Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Requests to burn on a Saturday must also be made during these normal business hours.
 
D. The Fire Marshal, Open Burning Official or Commissioner may revoke an open air burning permit by oral or written notice to Woodbury's Fire Dispatch Center if one of the conditions specified under § 143-22 becomes an issue after such permit is issued.
 
E. A copy of the permit shall be kept in the possession of the applicant at the burn site during the burn.
 
F. Except for fire-fighting exercises, burning shall be permitted on sunny or partly sunny days when wind speed is between five miles per hour and 15 miles per hour and only between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.
 
G. Burning is not allowed on Sundays or legal holidays.
 
H. Prior to burning, the applicant shall call the Open Burning Official on the day of the intended burn to ask whether the day is approved or if the permit has been revoked. The number to call will be indicated on the permit upon issuance
 
 
§ 143-26 Penalties for offenses.
 
A. A maximum of one written warning shall be allowed to the homeowner, resident or responsible person(s) for a violation of this article.
 
B. After the first written warning in a calendar year, the homeowner, resident or responsible person shall be fined $100 for each additional written warning. This process shall continue up to the third written warning.
 
C. If the violations continue after the third written warning, the Fire Marshal shall seek an order from a court of competent jurisdiction for a cease-and-desist order of the open burning that violates this article and shall seek a fine of not more than $200 or imprisonment for not more than six months, or both, pursuant to C.G.S. § 23-48.
 
D. After a third violation of this article, the applicant shall not be issued a burning permit for a period of one year from the third violation date.
 
E. The Open Burning Official or local Fire Marshal may inspect private premises and shall make all reasonable efforts to prevent and correct violations of this article.
 
 
A. The Office of the Fire Marshal is charged with the enforcement of this article. That office can request assistance from the Police Department, Fire Department or Connecticut DEEP, as necessary.
 
B. The Office of the Fire Marshal shall provide the homeowner, resident or person responsible for the open burning a notice of written warning violation when the open burning is in violation of this article and any part of it. The written warning violation notice shall be left with the proper person or affixed to the residence in a conspicuous location. When necessary, a copy of the written violation shall be sent to the responsible person(s) by certified mail, return receipt requested. In the event that the responsible person does not claim such form at the Post Office, the Fire Marshal shall have such notice served by a Judicial Marshal.
 
C. In the event that the Fire Marshal, Police Department or Fire Department determines that, in the best interest of public safety and/or the intent of this article, the open burning must immediately cease, they have the authority to have the open burning extinguished, as soon as possible.
 
D. Nothing in this article shall limit the power and authority of the Fire Marshal to enforce its respective regulations or other related Connecticut regulations regarding open burning.
 
E. Open brush burning is not allowed without a permit. Brush burning without a permit is illegal and the individual(s) responsible for the burning may be subject to arrest by the Police Department or any other authorized person(s).
 
F. The Fire Marshal may revoke or cancel a burn permit if it is deemed that the open burning is creating a nuisance, fire hazard, unsafe condition, environmental hazard or for any other reasonable condition.
 
G. The notice of written violation form, at a minimum, shall contain the following information:
 
(1) The property of origin.
 
(2) The exact nature and chapter section(s) of the violation(s).
 
(3) A copy of this article.
 
(4) The penalty or fine for the violation of this article.
 
(5) The penalty(s) or fine(s) for continued violation of this article.
 
(6) The procedure to appeal this violation(s).
 
(7) The name and business telephone number(s) of the Fire Marshal, Police or Fire Department representative finding such violation(s)