Burn Ban Lifted for Mecklenburg County

As of April 2, at 8 a.m., the Mecklenburg County Fire Marshal’s Office has rescinded the local burn ban that was previously implemented in coordination with the statewide order issued by the N.C. Forest Service.

The burn ban has been lifted after consultation with forestry partners, as weather conditions have improved reducing the overall wildfire risk.

While the burn ban is no longer in effect, the County Fire Marshal’s Office would like to remind residents that open burning remains restricted under local fire prevention and air quality regulations.

• Residents should stay informed and responsible when it comes to preventing fires.
• Open burning is not allowed within Mecklenburg County, with some limited exceptions. These include permitted prescribed burns, live fire training exercises, and designated agricultural or farm use properties, provided that the property field record shows a farm use exemption.
• In rare cases, a burn permit may be issued to a property owner in a rural part of the county, but only after an on-site visit has been conducted to ensure safeguards are in place and there’s no adverse impact to nearby structures and properties.  
• Burning yard waste in barrels, fire pits, or on the ground is not allowed. These fires must be extinguished by the owner or the fire department if a response is generated.  
• Recreational and warming fires are generally exempted, but these fires must be constantly attended to and have a readily available water supply or fire extinguisher nearby that can be used to control or extinguish the fire.