Burn Ban Information
The City of Tyler observes all burning bans imposed by Smith County. These bans are declared when weather and humidity conditions make all outdoor burning hazardous. Call (903)590-2656 for recorded information regarding any current bans. At other times, outdoor burning may be allowed in the City under very limited conditions. Please see Outdoor Burning below for more specific information.
Outdoor Burning
The City of Tyler allows the burning of brush under very limited conditions. Please view the following information relating to authorized burning within the city limits.
Burning, when otherwise allowed, must conform to the City of Tyler Burning Ordinance and to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) Rules. A summary of these rules follows.
CITY OF TYLER
1. Owners of individual, residentially zoned lots of two acres or more in size, may burn for the purpose of maintenance or land clearing only.
2. No household garbage, leaves, grass, commercial waste, or old building materials can be burned.
3. Burning is prohibited on Ozone Action Days designated by TNRCC and during declared burn bans.
4. Burning is prohibited for purposes of residential or commercial development.
5. If complaints of smoke becoming a nuisance are received, the burning must be extinguished.
Click here to view the complete text as found in the City Code of Ordinances. (Use the search form and type in Burning.) Contact the Fire Marshal's Office at (903)535.0007 for more information.
TCEQ
1. Burn only when the wind direction and other weather conditions are such that the smoke and other pollutants will not present a hazard to any public road or any off-site structure that may contain "sensitive receptors" such as residences, businesses, farm buildings or greenhouses.
2. Post someone to flag traffic if at any time the burning causes or may tend to cause smoke to blow onto or across a road or highway.
3. Keep fires downwind of or at least 300 feet away from any neighboring structure that contains "sensitive receptors". This requirement may be waived only with prior written approval of whoever owns or rents the adjacent property.
4. Begin burning no earlier than one hour after sunrise, end it the same day and no later than one hour before sunset. Make sure that a responsible party is present while the burn is active and the fire is progressing. Don't start burning unless weather conditions are appropriate for smoke to dissipate (winds of at least 6 miles per hour; no temperature inversions) and for you to be able to control the fire (winds no faster than 23 miles per hour).
5. You may not burn any electrical insulation, treated lumber, plastics, heavy oils, asphaltic materials, potentially explosive materials, chemical wastes, construction or demolition materials not made of wood, or items that contain natural or synthetic rubber.
Further information regarding the TCEQ Rules can be obtained by calling
(903) 535-5100.
Revised: May 25, 2001
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