Burn bans in Maryland
Maryland runs two layers. COMAR 26.11.07.03 bans open burning outright every year from June 1 through August 31 in Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Calvert, Carroll, Cecil, Charles, Frederick, Harford, Howard, Montgomery, and Prince George's counties, plus Baltimore City — an ozone-season air-quality restriction covering the Baltimore-Washington metro area. In the other 12 counties, and everywhere outside that window, open burning instead runs on a year-round local permit system through each county's control officer, generally limited to between 4 p.m. and midnight. Separately, at any time and in any area, the DNR Secretary or the Governor can declare a full 'burning ban' under Natural Resources Article §5-720 when fire danger is severe — a real, event-driven power (used statewide in November 2024) with no fixed schedule.
Applies only to the 11 counties plus Baltimore City covered by COMAR 26.11.07.03's ozone-season restriction — chiefly the Baltimore-Washington metro area. Elsewhere, and outside this window, burning runs on a year-round local permit system this page cannot verify live, and the DNR Secretary or Governor can separately declare a statewide or area burning ban at any time under §5-720 — not reflected below.
All counties in Maryland
| county | Status | Since |
|---|---|---|
| Allegany | Unconfirmed | — |
| Anne Arundel | Unconfirmed | — |
| Baltimore | Unconfirmed | — |
| Baltimore City | Unconfirmed | — |
| Calvert | Unconfirmed | — |
| Caroline | Unconfirmed | — |
| Carroll | Unconfirmed | — |
| Cecil | Unconfirmed | — |
| Charles | Unconfirmed | — |
| Dorchester | Unconfirmed | — |
| Frederick | Unconfirmed | — |
| Garrett | Unconfirmed | — |
| Harford | Unconfirmed | — |
| Howard | Unconfirmed | — |
| Kent | Unconfirmed | — |
| Montgomery | Unconfirmed | — |
| Prince George's | Unconfirmed | — |
| Queen Anne's | Unconfirmed | — |
| Somerset | Unconfirmed | — |
| St. Mary's | Unconfirmed | — |
| Talbot | Unconfirmed | — |
| Washington | Unconfirmed | — |
| Wicomico | Unconfirmed | — |
| Worcester | Unconfirmed | — |
How Maryland decides
- Maryland has 23 counties plus independent Baltimore City (24 jurisdictions total) — 12 of them ban open burning outright every June through August; the other 12 use a year-round local permit system instead.
- The DNR Secretary or the Governor can declare a full burning ban statewide at any time under NRA §5-720 when fire danger is severe — Maryland did this in November 2024 — independent of the fixed June-August season.
- Where a permit-based burn is allowed, it's limited to between 4 p.m. and midnight in most of the state, meant to keep fires from spreading during the hottest, driest part of the day.
- St. Mary's County has its own separate year-round permit provision rather than following the general 12-county permit rule.
Penalties in Maryland
Under COMAR 08.03.12.24, violating Maryland's forest-fire and open-burning regulations is a misdemeanor punishable as provided in Natural Resources Article §10-1101 — up to $1,500 for a first offense, and up to $4,000, up to 1 year in jail, or both, for a second or subsequent offense within 2 years.
Classification: Misdemeanor · Maximum fine: up to $1,500 for a first offense; up to $4,000 and 1 year in jail for a second offense within 2 years
Common questions about Maryland burn bans
Is there a burn ban in Maryland right now?
No county-level burn ban is currently reported by Maryland Department of Natural Resources for Maryland. The statewide DEC seasonal rule may still restrict burning during certain windows. Municipal rules within a county may still apply.
How does Maryland issue a burn ban?
Maryland runs two layers. COMAR 26.11.07.03 bans open burning outright every year from June 1 through August 31 in Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Calvert, Carroll, Cecil, Charles, Frederick, Harford, Howard, Montgomery, and Prince George's counties, plus Baltimore City — an ozone-season air-quality restriction covering the Baltimore-Washington metro area. In the other 12 counties, and everywhere outside that window, open burning instead runs on a year-round local permit system through each county's control officer, generally limited to between 4 p.m. and midnight. Separately, at any time and in any area, the DNR Secretary or the Governor can declare a full 'burning ban' under Natural Resources Article §5-720 when fire danger is severe — a real, event-driven power (used statewide in November 2024) with no fixed schedule.
When is the Maryland burning restriction in effect?
June 1 through August 31. Today the rule is not in effect.
What are the penalties for violating a burn ban in Maryland?
Under COMAR 08.03.12.24, violating Maryland's forest-fire and open-burning regulations is a misdemeanor punishable as provided in Natural Resources Article §10-1101 — up to $1,500 for a first offense, and up to $4,000, up to 1 year in jail, or both, for a second or subsequent offense within 2 years.
burnbanradar reports the counties-level orders as published by Maryland Department of Natural Resources. Municipal ordinances may impose stricter rules. When Maryland Department of Natural Resources does not list a county, that does not mean no ban exists — verify with the county office. The published order governs.