Burn permits are free of charge.
The application may be obtained at the Town Clerk's office or can
be downloaded here using Adobe Acrobat Reader.
Open Burning Conditions:
A person shall not kindle or maintain or authorize to be kindled or maintained any open burning unless
conducted and approved in accordance with the following conditions:
1. When a burn permit is required, notification is to be made to Onondaga County Fire Control before
starting and upon completion of the open burn by calling: 435-8881
2. Only brush, tree limbs smaller than 6-inches in diameter can be burned in an open fire.
3. Tires, fuel oil or similar materials shall not be used to ignite or to sustain a fire.
4. Building construction debris, garbage, refuse and rubbish including papers and cardboard shall not
be burned in an open fire.
5. Tree trunks, stumps or roots shall not be burned while still in the ground.
6. Open burning that will be offensive or objectionable due to smoke or odor emissions, or when
atmospheric conditions or local circumstances make such fires hazardous, shall be prohibited.
7. No person shall conduct open burning during any stage of an air pollution episode or when the
NY State Commissioner of Environmental Conservation or the Town of Marcellus Code
Enforcement Office announces a period of high fire danger.
8. Any person shall be liable for any damage to trees or other property resulting from a fire
ignited by him.
9. The location for open burning shall not be less than 50 feet from any structure
(more where required by the code enforcement official), and provisions shall be made to prevent
the fire from spreading to within 50 feet of any structure. Exception: Recreational Fires shall not be
less than 25 feet from any structure.
10. Open burns shall be constantly attended until the fire is extinguished.
11. Open burns shall not be allowed to smolder and shall be completely extinguished when finished.
12. A minimum of one portable fire extinguisher complying with Fire Code of New York State §906
with a minimum 4-A rating or other approved on-site fire-extinguishing equipment, such as dirt, sand,
water barrel, garden hose or water truck, shall be available for immediate utilization.
13. Should it become necessary for the Town of Marcellus Code Enforcement Official or Fire Chief to
extinguish any fire, the person responsible for the fire shall pay the entire cost of suppression.
14. A burn permit holder shall show this permit to any person who requests to see it.
For further information or answers to related questions
call the Fire Marshal at 673-3269, ext. 4.
Town of Marcellus, 24 East Main Street, Marcellus, NY 13108
Town of Marcellus Code Enforcement Office
Burn Permits
Important Notes:
1) The open burning of residential waste is prohibited in all communities statewide.
2) On-site burning of limbs and branches is prohibited between March 15th and May 15th.
3) A permit is required for the open burning of tree limbs and branches.
4) Limbs over 6-inches in diameter may not be burned in an open fire.
Taking a step to reduce harmful air pollutants and help prevent wildfires, the New York State Department of Environmental
Conservation (DEC) has extended restrictions on the open burning of residential waste effective October 14. 2009.
The open burning of residential waste will be prohibited in all communities statewide, regardless of population, with
exceptions for burning tree limbs and branches between May 15th and March 15th of the following year.
"While bygone generations burned their garbage, that practice now must end. Decades ago, garbage didn't contain
plastics, foils, batteries, paper bleached with chlorine and other materials used today," Commissioner Grannis said.
In addition to releasing pollutants, open burning is the largest single cause of wildfires in New York State. Data from
DEC's Forest Protection Division show that debris burning accounted for about 40 percent of wildfires between 1986
and 2006 - more than twice the next most-cited source. In 2006 alone, debris burning triggered 98 wildfires in the state.
Burn Permits are required for all open burning except recreational fires, as defined:
Recreational Fire. An outdoor fire burning materials other than garbage, rubbish or refuse where the fuel being burned
consists of a total fuel area of three (3) feet or less in diameter and two (2) feet or less in height for pleasure, religious,
ceremonial, cooking, warmth or similar purposes and excluding the burning of materials for the sake of disposal.
The minimum required distance of a recreational fire from a structure shall be twenty-five (25) feet.
Read the entire Town of Marcellus open burning law here
(Requires
Adobe Reader
)
Read the NYSDEC regulations here
Bans on open burning due to dry conditions will be posted here