Village of Earlville
           (315) 691-2121              Po Box 88,    8 N. Main St.,          New York

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NYS Dept. of Conservation - Open Burning Regulations

In any Village in New York State, nearly ALL open burning is illegal. Basically, no household waste or yard waste is allowed to be burned in any village. The very few exceptions for open burning in villages are as follows:

  • Barbecue grills, maple sugar arches and similar outdoor cooking devices when actually used for cooking or processing food.
  • Small fires used for cooking and camp fires (a camp fire or any other outdoor open fire [must be] less than three feet in height, and less than four feet in length and width or diameter) provided that only charcoal or untreated wood is used as fuel and the fire is not left unattended until extinguished.
  • On-site burning of agricultural wastes as part of a valid agricultural operation on contiguous agricultural lands larger than five acres actively devoted to agricultural or horticultural use, provided such waste is actually grown or generated on those lands and such waste is capable of being fully burned within a 24-hour period.
  • The use of liquid petroleum fueled smudge pots to prevent frost damage to crops.
  • Ceremonial or celebratory bonfires where not otherwise prohibited by law, provided that only untreated wood or other agricultural products are used as fuel and the fire is not left unattended until extinguished.
  • Small fires that are used to dispose of a flag or religious item, and small fires or other smoke producing process where not otherwise prohibited by law that are used in connection with a religious ceremony.
  • Burning on an emergency basis of explosive or other dangerous or contraband materials by police or other public safety organization.
  • Prescribed burns performed according to Part 194 of this Title [this is primarily for the setting of management ignited prescribed fires and to manage naturally ignited prescribed fires for purposes including, but not limited to silviculture, wildlife management, habitat management, insect and/or disease control, forest fuel reduction, wildfire suppression or as an alternative action to mechanical or chemical control of vegetation].
  • Fire training, including firefighting, fire rescue, and fire/arson investigation training, performed under applicable rules and guidelines of the New York State Department of State's Office of Fire Prevention and Control. For fire training performed on acquired structures, the structures must be emptied and stripped of any material that is toxic, hazardous or likely to emit toxic smoke (such as asbestos, asphalt shingles and vinyl siding or other vinyl products) prior to burning and must be at least 300 feet from other occupied structures. No more than one structure per lot or within a 300 foot radius (whichever is bigger) may be burned in a training exercise.
  • Individual open fires as approved by the Director of the Division of Air Resources as may be required in response to an outbreak of a plant or animal disease upon request by the commissioner of the Department of Agriculture and Markets, or for the destruction of invasive plant and insect species.
  • Individual open fires that are otherwise authorized under the environmental conservation law, or by rule or regulation of the Department.

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