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Burn Permit Information

Contact the Valley Center Fire Department at (316) 755-7303 between the hours of 7:00 am until 7:00 pm to request a burn permit within the city limits of Valley Center or by visiting the City of Valley Center website at www.valleycenterks.org go to the Fire Department home page and click on email submittal on the front page or under the burn permit section.
   

Requirements

 By applying for and accepting a permit, you agree to abide by the following requirements:

1. The applicant is in legal control of the lot or parcel of land as herein described.
2. Burning will be attended continuously by a competent person of legal age, from the time of ignition to the time of extinguishment.
3. Burning will not be permitted if the wind speed exceeds 15 miles per hour.
4. For Field Type Fires: A fire break (plowed or disced) of at least 20 feet on all sides of the area to be burned shall be provided.
5. For Non-Field Type Fires: Adequate clearance shall be provided from readily combustible materials (example: grass to be mowed) with material(s) to be burned located a minimum of 100 feet from any structure and 10 feet from any property line.
6. Burning shall not create a smoke nuisance or hazard to neighboring properties or persons.
7. Precautions shall be taken to assure confinement, intensity, and size of said burn.
8. Burning of any heavy smoke-producing material is strictly prohibited. This includes, but is not limited to: rubber tires, plastics, roofing, tar paper, old furniture, garbage, cloth, or any petroleum base product.
9. A garden hose or other fire extinguishment equipment shall be available at the burn location.
10. Burning shall be conducted one hour after sunrise to one hour before sunset (except agriculture and other specifically approved burns).
11. Starting fires with combustible or flammable liquids is prohibited. The use of gasoline or other ignitable liquids in this matter is extremely dangerous.

Examples of Open Burn

1. Burning of combustible waste material from residential or commercial construction projects which is from the permit location
2. Burning of brush and tree trimmings on residential or commercial property; brush and tree trimmings must be cut from the burn location (materials to be burned must not be hauled or brought in from outside of the permit property)
3. Burning that is considered to be necessary and in the publics interest as determined on a case-by-case basis (roadway clearing, salvage operations, structures, etc.)
4. Burning of cut trees, vegetation, or lumber for recreational enjoyment, commonly known as a bonfire

City Ordinances Listed Below

1. 9.43.070 - Burning guidelines.
2. All allowed acts and variances must follow these guidelines:
3. Only wood products or other pre-approved material may be burned.
4. Fires shall be attended at all times until completely extinguished and all cold.
5. Burning shall occur only in daylight hours with the exception of rallies and recreational or ceremonial fires.
6. If a fire creates an air pollution problem, a nuisance or a fire hazard, it shall be extinguished.
7. No burning shall be conducted during unfavorable meteorological conditions such as temperature inversions, high winds, air stagnation, etc.
8. All persons during burning shall have sufficient fire suppression equipment present.
9. Burning must be in compliance with any state and/or local burn bans.

2.20.140 – Refuse burning—Approved cover.

1. It is unlawful for any person, firm or corporation to burn sweepings, trash, lumber, leaves, straw or other combustible material in any refuse burner that does not have an approved type cover. An approved type cover is defined as one that will prevent the scattering of burn embers. (Ord. 482 § 1 (part), 1973.)

2.20.150 – Refuse burning—Time.

1. It is unlawful for any person, firm or corporation to burn refuse as herein specified, at any time except between the hours of sunrise and sunset. Any person setting out a fire shall see that the same is completely extinguished before the hour of sunset. (Ord. 482 § 1 (part), 1973.

2.20.160 - Bonfires.

1. 1.It is unlawful for any person, firm or corporation to set out bonfires without the specific permission of the fire chief of the city, as to the place and time of setting such fire. (Ord. 482 § 1 (part), 1973.)