Outdoor Burning Permits

Prescribed Wildland and Essential Agriculture Burning is OPEN

You can obtain a General Outdoor Burning (Yard Debris), Prescribed Wildland & Essential Agriculture Burning Permit as of March 1st. Burn Permits in Missoula County* are governed by an Online System. Permit ($7) must be ACTIVATED THE DAY YOU BURN after 9 am. Burn Hotline has Go / No Go: 1-888-583-6497.
READ RULES.

Refer to Missoula County Health Department for additional burning opportunities for essential agriculture, wildland prescribed fires and FAQs.

Before lighting your fire you must activate your permit either online (https://app.egovmt.com/burnpermit) or by calling the automated activation phone line at 1-888-583-6497 after 9:00 a.m. on the day you wish to burn. If burning is restricted you will not be able to activate your permit. When dispersion is poor, burn restrictions are required to protect public health.

Outdoor Burning Season

DNRC engine crewmember putting out a fire

General: 
March 1 – August 31

General burning is the cleanup and burning of untreated vegetative waste that does not include trade waste. All materials must be generated onsite. Most outdoor burning in Missoula County is conducted during the general burn season. NOTE: In the Air Stagnation Zone, piles of grass or deciduous leaves may not be disposed of through outdoor burning.

Outdoor burning | prescribed burns

Essential Agriculture: March 1st – October 31st

Essential agriculture burning is conducted on a farm or ranch to eliminate excess vegetative matter from an irrigation ditch or cultivated fields, or to improve range conditions or wildlife habitat. Agricultural burning should only be conducted when no reasonable alternative methods of disposal are available.

Outdoor burning | prescribed burns

Prescribed Wildland: March 1st – Nov 30th

Prescribed wildland burning is planned and conducted on forested land or relatively undeveloped range land to improve wildlife habitat or range conditions, promote forest regeneration, reduce fire hazards resulting from forestry practices, control forests pests and diseases, and/or promote any other accepted silvicultural practices.