Open burning regulations

Virginia’s air quality regulations restrict the open burning of waste during May, June, July, August and September  in the following areas:

• Northern Virginia: Arlington County, Fairfax County, Loudoun County, Prince William County, Stafford County, Alexandria, Fairfax, Falls Church, Manassas and Manassas Park.
  
• Hampton Roads: Isle of Wight County, James City County, York County, Chesapeake, Hampton, Newport News, Norfolk, Poquoson, Portsmouth, Suffolk, Virginia Beach and Williamsburg.
  
• Richmond: Charles City County, Chesterfield County, Hanover County, Henrico County, Prince George County, Colonial Heights, Hopewell, Petersburg and Richmond.
  
• Western Virginia:  Botetourt County, Frederick County, Roanoke County, Roanoke, Salem and Winchester.
  
• Fredericksburg:  Spotsylvania County and Fredericksburg.

In these areas, open burning to dispose of the following is prohibited:

• Clean burning construction waste, debris waste, and demolition waste resulting from property maintenance, from the development or modification of roads and highways, parking areas, railroad tracks, pipelines, power and communication lines, buildings or building areas, sanitary landfills, or from any other clearing operations.
  
• Clean burning construction waste, debris waste, and demolition waste on the site of local landfills.

Each locality may have additional restrictions on the open burning of waste. Please contact the city or county fire marshal’s office for more information about local requirements.

More information is availale on the DEQ air quality division website.