Facts on Open Burning Under

Missouri Regulations

1/2008

Open burning is the burning of any materials in which air contaminants are emitted directly into

the air without first passing through a stack or chimney. This fact sheet summarizes allowable

and prohibited open burning under Missouri regulations. It does not include open burning

restrictions that city or county governments may impose in addition to Missouri’s state

regulations. Prior to conducting any open burning, businesses and citizens should contact the

city or county of jurisdiction for any local restrictions.

The open burning of certain trade wastes and tires is prohibited because the toxic emissions that

can be released are harmful to human health. Smoke from fires also typically produces large

amounts of small particulate matter that can be inhaled, causing respiratory problems. The

burning of common household trash, including paper products and food wastes, can

also have severe consequences. Studies have indicated the open burning of an individual

household’s trash could release pollutants in higher levels than the burning of the trash of

thousands of homes by a municipal waste incinerator because the lower combustion

temperatures prevent complete incineration. These pollutants can include dioxins, volatile

organic compounds, acetaldehyde, formaldehyde, hydrogen chloride and naphthalene.

Open burning exposes individuals to toxic emissions that may irritate the eyes, skin and

upper respiratory tract. The central nervous system can also be affected causing headaches,

dizziness and fatigue.

Because of these potential dangers, the Missouri Department of Natural Resources strongly

discourages open burning of any material prior to investigating alternatives. Some rural areas

can participate in a “green box” service, which provides a trash collection point near a centrally

located county road for local residents to use. Green boxes are usually picked up

or emptied once a week. Other options include waste disposal services, waste diversion,

recycling and composting. Contact your local Solid Waste Management District for assistance in

implementing these safer alternatives to open burning.

Prohibited Open Burning Under State Regulation

Any waste generated by a business, trade, industry, salvage or demolition operation cannot be

burned without a permit issued by the Department of Natural Resources or its delegated local

agency. Permits will only be considered for untreated wood wastes. Wastes that may not be

burned include but are not limited to tires, rubber products, hazardous materials, styrofoam,

plastics, petroleum based products, demolition waste, treated wood and any asbestoscontaining

material.

Allowable Open Burning Under State Regulations

Note: Local governments may have stricter laws and policies

Open Burning of Household Refuse

General Provisions: Missouri allows open burning of household refuse from four dwelling

units or less provided it originates and is burned on the same premises. This exemption does

not apply to mobile home parks or apartment complexes. Residential waste is solid waste

produced by routine household activities, such as paper waste and garbage from daily

activities. This does not include home remodeling wastes, wastes from home businesses,

durable goods such as old appliances, carpets or furniture, tires or other nonroutine

household waste. Materials such as tires or used oil may not be used to start the fires or

be burned in the fires.

Kansas City and St. Joseph metropolitan areas: Open burning is allowed provided it

occurs within an area zoned for agricultural purposes and outside the portion of the

metropolitan areas surrounding the corporate limits of Kansas City and St. Joseph and their

bordering municipalities.

Outstate area: No special day, time or location restrictions.

Springfield-Greene County area: Open burning is allowed provided that burning takes

place outside the corporate limits of Springfield and only within areas zoned A-1, Agricultural

District.

St. Louis metropolitan area: Open burning of household refuse is prohibited in the St. Louis

metropolitan area.

Open Burning of Yard Wastes

General Provisions: Missouri allows open burning of yard wastes from sites provided it

originates and is burned on the same premises. Materials such as tires or used oil may not

be used to start the fires or be burned in the fires. Yard waste includes trees, tree leaves,

brush or other vegetation.

Kansas City metropolitan area: Open burning of trees, tree leaves, brush or any other type

of vegetation requires an open burning permit.

St. Joseph metropolitan area: Open burning of residential yard wastes is allowed only

during a three week period in spring and during a three-week period in fall between 10 a.m.

and 3:30 p.m. The two, three-week periods are to be determined by the city along with state

agencies and the state fire marshal.

Outstate area: No special day, time or location restrictions.

Springfield-Greene County area: Open burning of trees, brush or any other type of

vegetation requires an open burning permit. The open burning of leaves is prohibited.

St. Louis metropolitan area: Open burning of trees, tree leaves or brush is allowed only in

areas outside of incorporated municipalities from Sept. 16 to April 14 of each calendar year.

These brush piles are limited to a base of 16 square feet and the burning is allowed from 10

a.m. through 4 p.m.

Open Burning for Fire Training Purposes

Missouri allows fires set for the purpose of training fire fighters provided they are conducted

in accordance with National Fire Protection Association Standards 600 and 1403. Timely

notification should be provided to the appropriate regional office or delegated local agency.

All fire training exercises involving donated or acquired structures must be conducted in

compliance with 40 CFR part 61 subpart M, National Emission Standard for Hazardous Air

Pollutants-Asbestos. The use of donated or acquired structures for training is discussed in

Publication 2029. All petroleum based products and asbestos containing materials must be

removed from donated or acquired structures prior to any burning.

Open Burning in Agricultural, Natural Resource or Land Management Operations

Missouri allows agricultural burning throughout the state. However, several exceptions apply.

Materials such as tires or used oil may not be used to start the fires or be burned in the fires.

Any burning that creates a health hazard, nuisance or produces smoke that impairs visibility

for those operating motor vehicles or airplanes is prohibited. Contact the St. Louis Regional

Office before burning in the St. Louis metropolitan area from April 15 to Sept. 15. Botanical

nursery operations (greenhouses) are not considered agricultural operations.

Open Burning in Land Clearing Operations

Open burning of tree trunks, tree limbs and vegetation from land clearing operations is

allowed without an ACD or permit in the outstate area if the burning takes place outside the

city limits of any incorporated area or municipality and at least 200 yards from the nearest

inhabited dwelling. Materials such as tires or used oil may not be used to start the fires or be

burned in the fires. Permits containing special conditions may be issued by regional offices

or local agencies for sites unable to comply with the requirements above. See the Required

Open Burning Permits section below for exceptions in the Springfield-Greene County area,

and Kansas City and St. Louis Metropolitan areas.

Open Burning at Wood Processing Facilities

Open burning of untreated wood waste from wood processing facilities is allowed if

production is less than 8,000 board-feet per day and the facility was in existence as of

March 25, 1976, but has not relocated to a new site. The burning also must be done at least

200 yards from the nearest occupied structure.

Open burning of untreated wood waste from wood processing facilities

is allowed if production is less than 8,000 board-feet per day and the facility has relocated or

from new wood processing facilities not in existence as of Sept. 18, 1970, and the facility and

the burning are at least one mile outside city limits. The burning also must be done at least

200 yards from the nearest occupied structure.

Open Burning for Recreational Purposes

Campfires and other fires used solely for recreational purposes, ceremonial occasions

or for outdoor noncommercial preparation of food are allowed in Missouri. Fires shall include

only vegetative woody materials or untreated wood products.

Required Open Burning Permits

The open burning of certain trade wastes, primarily untreated wood wastes such as pallets or

crates, throughout the state, and vegetation from land clearing operations in the Springfield-

Greene County area and the Kansas City and St. Louis Metropolitan areas, may be permitted

only when it can be shown that open burning is the only feasible method of disposal and that

disposal is in the public interest. In the St. Louis nonattainment area, permits will not be issued

unless it can be shown that emissions from open burning would be less than any other waste

management or disposal method. The open burning permit requires the facility, in most cases,

to use an air curtain destructor.

Commercial and municipal utility tree trimming operations must submit a request to the

appropriate regional office for an annually renewable open burning permit. The request must

describe the general size, condition and age of the tree trunks and tree limbs to be open burned.

Air curtain destructors are generally required at dedicated sites where burning occurs.

Commercial and municipal utility tree trimming operations must submit an application for an

open burning permit to the appropriate regional office or local agency.

The information provided in this fact sheet should not be construed to permit open burning that

causes or constitutes a public health hazard, nuisance or a hazard to vehicular or air traffic or

violates any other rule or statute.

Definitions

St. Louis metropolitan area: The geographical area comprising St. Louis, St. Charles,

Jefferson and Franklin Counties and the city of St. Louis. These counties are also currently

a nonattainment area for ground-level ozone.

Springfield-Greene County area: The geographical area contained within Greene County.

Kansas City metropolitan area: The geographical area comprising Jackson, Cass, Clay,

Platte, Ray and Buchanan counties.

Outstate area: The geographical area comprising those counties not contained in the

St. Louis metropolitan area, the Springfield-Greene County area or the Kansas City

metropolitan area.

Air Curtain Destructor: An air pollution control device designed to increase burning

efficienc, reducing air contaminant emissions during open burning.

Open Burning Permit: A permit that must be applied for and then granted in order to open

burn or open burn with restrictions. Permit applications must be sent to the Regional Office

or local agency that has jurisdiction over your area. Applications are available at

www.dnr.mo.gov/forms or any regional or local agency office.

Untreated Wood: Lumber and other wooden materials that have not been chemically

treated for resistance to moisture, fire, fungi, insects and other pests or has not otherwise

been treated or manufactured with chemicals, or that does not contain adhesives or resins.

Untreated wood does not include plywood, particleboard, chipboard or wood with other than

minimal amounts of paint, coating or finish.

For More Information

Missouri Department of Natural Resources

Air Pollution Control Program

P.O. Box 176, Jefferson City, MO 65102-0176

1-800-361-4827 or (573) 751-4817 office

(573) 751-2706 fax

www.dnr.mo.gov/env/apcp/index.html

Missouri Department of Natural Resources

Solid Waste Management Program

P.O. Box 176, Jefferson City, MO 65102-0176

1-800-361-4827 or (573) 751-5401 office

(573) 526-3902 fax