Erie County, New York
New York's statewide statutory rule applies today: restrictions on residential and open burning are in force. Statewide. Fire Towns prohibit open burning year-round without a permit.
What this means
- Open burning of yard waste, brush and debris
- Household trash burning (year-round statewide)
- Campfires under 3 ft high and 4 ft wide, if attended
- Small cooking fires (grill, camp stove)
Penalties in New York
Illegal open burning can carry a fine of at least $500 for a first offense under NYS Environmental Conservation Law. Escaped fires increase liability substantially.
Classification: Violation of Environmental Conservation Law · Maximum fine: up to $500 (first offense), higher for repeat violations
Sources & audit log
| Checked | Source | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Sep 16, 2026 | NYS Department of Environmental Conservation ↗ | status: Partial Restrictions |
Neighbouring counties
Notify me when this changes
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Still legal during a ban
None of these are a way around Erie county's restriction — they're what stays legal regardless of it: contained burning, screened fire pits, and basic fire safety gear. Always confirm locally before burning anything.
Contained burn barrels
A lidded, spark-arrestor barrel keeps debris burning contained rather than as open burning — check your county's rules, since some bans cover any outdoor fire regardless of containment.
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Most burn bans target open debris burning, not a screened recreational fire pit — but always confirm locally, since some restrictions cover any outdoor flame.
Fire extinguishers
Always worth having on hand near any permitted fire, ban or no ban.
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Limits of this information
burnbanradar reads public burn-ban orders as published by NYS Department of Environmental Conservation and reports them unchanged. Cities and municipalities within Erie county may impose stricter rules than the county order. Water districts and state forestry rules may add further restrictions. When an order is ambiguous or the source cannot be reached, we show Unconfirmed instead of guessing a status. The county's own posted order governs.
Common questions
Is Erie county under a burn ban right now?
Partial restrictions apply. New York's statewide rule limits when and where you can burn today. See the "What this means" module above for the specifics.
What can I still burn in Erie county?
Campfires under 3 ft high and 4 ft wide are allowed year-round if attended. Small cooking fires are allowed. Household trash burning is prohibited year-round statewide.
How do I report an illegal fire in Erie county?
Call 911 for any fire that is out of control or threatens property. For a non-emergency burn-ban violation, you can also reach NYS DEC Forest Ranger Dispatch at 1-833-NYS-RANGERS (1-833-697-7264) (to report a wildfire; for illegal open burning specifically, call the DEC hotline 1-844-DEC-ECOs (1-844-332-3267)), or contact the Erie Sheriff's Office.