The Knox County burn ban question has two answers on any given day, because two separate authorities can shut down outdoor burning: the Knox County Air Quality Management Department and the Tennessee Division of Forestry. Before you light anything, check both. A valid permit in your pocket does not override an active ban from either agency, and getting it wrong can cost anywhere from a $50 fine to $25,000 per day in civil penalties.
How to Check If Burning Is Allowed Today
Knox County Air Quality Management declares “air pollution action days” when stagnant air keeps smoke from dispersing. On those days, all open burning is prohibited and every open burning permit in the county is invalid, including recreational fires that normally do not need a permit at all.1Knox County Tennessee. Air Quality Management – Open Burning
The state runs a separate system. The Tennessee Division of Forestry tracks wildfire danger through tn.firesponse.com. When fire weather turns severe, the Commissioner of Agriculture can impose a burn ban on specific counties at a county mayor’s request, and the Governor can order regional or statewide bans.2TN Wildland Fire. Get a Burn Permit in Tennessee Check the Division of Forestry’s restriction map, and call the number on your Knox County permit to confirm no local action day is in effect.
Permits You Need
Knox County requires an open burning permit for any land management burning, year-round. You apply online through the Knox County Air Quality Management Department, keep the permit on-site during burning, and the permit is good for one year.1Knox County Tennessee. Air Quality Management – Open Burning
From October 15 through May 15, Tennessee adds a second requirement. State law makes it illegal to start any open-air fire within 500 feet of forest, grasslands, or woodlands during that window without a permit from the State Forester.3Justia Law. Tennessee Code 39-14-306 – Setting Fires at Certain Times Without Permit State permits are available online from 8 AM to 11 PM daily, or by phone at 877-350-BURN (2876) weekdays 8 AM to 4:30 PM.2TN Wildland Fire. Get a Burn Permit in Tennessee Each state permit is valid for one day only, and your fire must be completely out by midnight.
If you plan to burn during the October to May season, you need both. The county permit does not satisfy the state requirement, and the state permit does not replace the county one.
What You Can and Cannot Burn
The only thing a standard Knox County land management permit lets you burn is brushwood that grew on your property, three inches or less in diameter. Your pile cannot exceed 144 cubic feet, roughly one level pickup truck load.1Knox County Tennessee. Air Quality Management – Open Burning
The materials most people assume they can burn in the yard are prohibited. Leaves, grass clippings, and stumps are all banned in Knox County.4Knox County Tennessee. Knox County Tennessee – Air Quality Management – Open Burning Application The full prohibited list covers:
- Yard waste: leaves, grass clippings, stumps, hay, and muck piles
- Household garbage: food waste, plastics, paper products, cardboard, cans, and glass
- Construction materials: lumber, drywall, shingles, insulation, carpet, and renovation debris
- Wood products: pallets, railroad ties, fence posts, sawdust, wood chips, and any painted, stained, or pressure-treated wood
- Other materials: tires, rubber, furniture, coated wire, chemical containers, used oil, and any waste from businesses or industries
These bans apply at all times, not just during a burn ban.1Knox County Tennessee. Air Quality Management – Open Burning The state’s prohibited list mirrors the county’s and adds asphalt roofing materials, asbestos-containing materials, vinyl siding, aerosol cans, and most vegetation not grown on site.5Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation. Open Burning
Hours and Size Limits
Burning is limited to 9:00 AM through 3:00 PM, seven days a week, and all flames and smoke must be completely out by 4:00 PM.4Knox County Tennessee. Knox County Tennessee – Air Quality Management – Open Burning Application That one-hour cushion matters. Stop adding fuel by 3:00 so you can have the fire out an hour later.
Cooking and Recreational Fires
Cooking fires and recreational or ceremonial fires such as campfires and bonfires are exempt from the Knox County permit requirement under normal conditions.1Knox County Tennessee. Air Quality Management – Open Burning Grilling dinner or sitting around a backyard campfire is fine.
The exemption disappears on air pollution action days. The department’s rule is flat: no open burning is allowed, and that includes recreational fires. Using a campfire as a way to burn prohibited materials like household trash or treated wood also breaks the rules, permit or no permit.
Penalties
Skipping a state permit during the October 15 to May 15 season is a Class C misdemeanor: up to 30 days in jail, a fine of up to $50, or both.3Justia Law. Tennessee Code 39-14-306 – Setting Fires at Certain Times Without Permit6Justia Law. Tennessee Code 40-35-111 – Authorized Terms of Imprisonment and Fines for Misdemeanors
Burning during an active ban is treated as reckless burning, a Class A misdemeanor: up to 11 months and 29 days in jail, a fine of up to $2,500, or both.7Justia Law. Tennessee Code 39-14-304 – Reckless Burning6Justia Law. Tennessee Code 40-35-111 – Authorized Terms of Imprisonment and Fines for Misdemeanors The same charge applies if a fire on your property escapes onto someone else’s land.
Knox County Air Quality Management has separate civil enforcement authority and can assess penalties of up to $25,000 per day, per violation.8Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation. Knox County Department of Air Quality Enforcement Standard Operating Procedure That figure is not reserved for industrial polluters; the regulation authorizes it for any violation, residential burning included. And if a fire causes serious property damage or endangers people, felony arson statutes can apply on top of everything else.9Justia Law. Tennessee Code 39-14-302 – Aggravated Arson