Fire Danger Rating Area 3
about 68% of the county (approximate)
· effective Aug 6, 2026
Low
Chittenden County, Vermont
No Restrictions Most restrictive fire-danger area
Verified Vermont has no county-declared burn bans — status reflects the Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation's daily fire-danger rating for the Fire Danger Rating Area(s) covering this county. A permit from your Town Forest Fire Warden is required for any open-air fire regardless of status. Vermont Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation ↗
In effect since
Aug 16, 2026
Expires
—
Issued by
Vermont Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation
Last verified
Aug 21, 2026
Chittenden county spans 2 Fire Danger Rating Areas
The Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation publishes one fire-danger rating per FDRA each day. Town Forest Fire Wardens use that rating to decide whether to issue burn permits that day — the rating itself isn't a standing order, and can change daily.
Fire Danger Rating Area 4
about 33% of the county (approximate)
· effective Aug 7, 2026
Low
What this means
The wording in each area above is Vermont Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation's own, and it is the authority for what you may burn on the land it covers. Two further systems apply on top:
Your county and fire district
They set their own outdoor burning rules and can go further than the state. Call your fire district before you burn.
Air-quality burn bans
Air-quality burn bans can apply separately from fire-risk restrictions, called on their own schedule based on conditions rather than fire danger. Check with your local air-quality agency.
Penalties in Vermont
Under 10 V.S.A. § 2675, violating the open-burning permit requirement in § 2645 is punishable by a fine of not more than $75 per violation — a continuing violation after a warden's complaint can be charged as a separate violation for each day it continues.
Classification: Civil fine · Maximum fine: up to $75 per violation, per day
Recent status history
- Aug 12, 2026 — No Restrictions
Sources & audit log
| Checked | Source | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Aug 21, 2026 | Vermont Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation ↗ | status: No Restrictions |
Neighbouring counties
Notify me when this changes
One email when Chittenden county's status changes — nothing else. No newsletter, no marketing. One-click unsubscribe.
Gear for burning safely
Open burning is currently permitted in Chittenden county, and the gear below helps keep a legal fire contained: barrels and pits that hold embers in one place, plus something to put a fire out with. Local rules on containment, distance and burn hours still apply — confirm those before you light.
Contained burn barrels
A lidded, spark-arrestor barrel keeps embers where you put them and makes a debris burn easier to control from start to finish.
Marabuut30-Inch Corten Steel Burn Barrel with Mesh LidMesh lid helps contain sparks and embers. Airflow vents, sturdy base, handles for ash removal.View on Amazon 
AURENZOStainless Steel Burn Cage with Removable Ash CatcherSolid steel lid contains flying embers. 360° ventilation slots and a slide-out ash tray.View on Amazon Patio fire pits with spark screens
A screened pit keeps a recreational fire in one place on a patio or lawn, and the screen catches embers before they travel.
Fire extinguishers
Worth keeping within arm's reach of any outdoor fire, whatever today's status says.
Product links on this page are Amazon affiliate links — as an Amazon Associate, burnbanradar earns from qualifying purchases. This never changes the price you pay or which county status we show. See our affiliate disclosure.
Limits of this information
burnbanradar reads public burn-ban orders as published by Vermont Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation and reports them unchanged. Cities and municipalities within Chittenden 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 Chittenden county under a burn ban right now?
No burn ban is currently reported for Chittenden county. Municipal rules within the county may still restrict burning.
What can I still burn in Chittenden county?
Standard open burning is currently permitted, subject to any municipal ordinance in your area. Never leave a fire unattended, and keep water and a shovel nearby.
How do I report an illegal fire in Chittenden 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 DEC Environmental Compliance Division at 1-802-828-1254 (for reporting illegal or unpermitted open burning; call 911 to report an active wildfire), or contact the Chittenden Sheriff's Office.