Burn bans in Tennessee

No county-level burn ban is currently reported by Tennessee Division of Forestry for Tennessee. Municipal rules within a county may still apply.

In Tennessee the Commissioner of Agriculture, in consultation with the State Forester, issues burn bans — but only at the request of a county mayor, and only under qualifying weather conditions. Underneath that sits a separate and far more common layer: from October 15 to May 15, any open-air fire within 500 feet of forest, grassland, or woodland needs a free burn permit from the Division of Forestry, and Forestry can pause permit issuance without a formal ban being declared.

Bans are issued by county officials and typically stay in effect until conditions improve or the order expires. Some counties set explicit expiration dates; others leave a ban open-ended until lifted. Check each county's page for the expiration listed on the current order.

Violating a Commissioner-imposed burn ban counts as reckless burning — a Class A misdemeanor carrying up to $2,500 and up to 11 months, 29 days in jail. Separately, setting an open-air fire during the October 15 – May 15 permit season without a permit is a Class C misdemeanor under Tenn. Code § 39-14-306, punishable by up to 30 days and a fine of up to $50. Burning prohibited materials can draw a TDEC penalty of up to $25,000 per incident.