Under a delegation of authority from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, Grand County allows large-scale open burning during the winter months only and only during favorable air quality conditions.  Our program only applies to private property owners and slash piles, not trash or buildings. The opening and closing of burn season depends upon weather and the presence of sufficient, permanent snow pack throughout most of the county. As a result, start and end dates vary from year to year, but generally the burn season runs from late November through March. Grand County Division of Natural Resources begins issuing open burn permits in mid-October and opens the season when there is sufficient snowpack countywide. These permits are valid for an entire burn season and expire on or around April 1. If you have questions or for more information, please call our office at 970-887-0745.

The general conditions of the permit are as follows:

• Approval must be given by the Division of Natural Resources for ignition on a daily basis during the burn season.
• Inspection of piles may be required by the division.
• The burn area will be attended at all times while flames are present.
• The permit must be on-site with the individual supervising the burn.
• Hazardous or toxic materials or construction debris cannot be burned in an open burn pile - only untreated wood is permitted in a burn pile.
• It is recommended that pile sizes not be larger than 12 by 12 by 10, if pile(s) are larger the permit will cost $50 for the season.
• Piles and material in piles should be dried for a minimum of one year prior to ignition. Large diameter material (greater than 6 inches in diameter) cannot exceed 20% of the pile density.
• Stumps and/or dirt are not allowed in open burn piles and piles containing dirt / stumps cannot be permitted.
• Homeowner association (HOA) regulations take primacy over county regulations.
• Any of the above conditions not met shall render the burn permit null and void and enforcement action by Grand County and possibly the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment can result.
• Burn season will have closures on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day & New Years Day.



2015-16 Burn Season Summary

332 Permits issued Countywide
Fire Protection District#1 (Granby) 74
Fire Protection District#2 (Grand Lake) 70
Fire Protection District#3 (HSSP) 15
Fire Protection District#4 (Fraser Valley) 147
Fire Protection District#5 (Kremmling) 29

163 Days long (Nov 11 to April 24) allowing a total of 1116 hours of burning

3,317 Piles permitted with 3,531 piles burned; some permits are constructing     and burning as they cut during the burn season.
7,236,120 Cubic Feet (CF) of material permitted with 5,249,216 CF burned

Of the 332 permits, only 40 did not report any burning activity

Website Resources

• Colorado Department of Public Heath and Environment Smoke Management for Everyone
• Colorado Pile Construction Guide, from CO State Forest Service & CO Dept. of Public Safety/Div of Fire Prevention & Control