Burning Information and Regulations

Central Oregon residents may find that burning yard debris is their preferred method for cleaning up their property and safeguarding their homes from fire. Depending on where you live, this may or may not be allowed. Yard debris includes things like pine needles, pinecones, branches, trees, shrubs, stumps, grass, and clippings.

Debris Burning Prohibited Inside Bend city limits

Inside the Bend city limits, burning yard debris is never allowed. This is a permanent rule set by City code. This means things like burn piles, barrels, weed torches or anything similar are prohibited.

Debris Burning Seasonally Allowed in Deschutes Rural Fire Protection District #2

If you live outside the Bend city limits but are still served by Bend Fire & Rescue or Deschutes Rural Fire Protection District #2 (Rural District), outdoor debris burning is open for the season as of Oct. 1, 2025. 

Debris burning is usually allowed from November to May, but it depends on fire season and weather conditions.

Even during burn season, burning might be stopped on certain days if it’s too windy or if the air quality is poor. Always call before you burn to make sure it’s safe and allowed that day. Specific burning guidelines for Rural District #2 are included below.

Small fires for fun, warmth, or cooking—like campfires or backyard fire pits—are usually okay all year inside Bend city limits and throughout the Rural District, as long as you use clean, dry firewood. But please be extra careful. These fires might be banned temporarily if the weather is dangerous or if wildfire risk is very high. For recreational fires, campfires and warming fires, remember:

• Fires should be no bigger than 3 feet wide and 2 feet tall.
• Keep fires at least 25 feet away from buildings and tall fences, if at all possible.
• If you’re using a store-bought fire pit, you can follow the distance the manufacturer recommends.
• Only burn clean, dry firewood that doesn’t make a lot of smoke.
• Fires must be completely out and cold to the touch before you leave.
• You can have campfires after dark, but someone must stay with the fire the whole time.

Before you light a fire, call the burn info line at 541-322-6335 to check if it’s allowed that day. If you don’t follow the rules, you could get a ticket or be reported to the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ).

Fires on Public Land

You’re not allowed to have open fires—even for cooking or staying warm—on land owned by the City of Bend, Deschutes County, or the Oregon Department of Transportation. This includes roadsides and other public areas.

Propane heaters and cooking devices are okay, but only if you use them safely and follow the instructions that come with them. You also need permission from the landowner to have any kind of fire—and that permission hasn’t been given for these public lands.

To learn more, check out the City of Bend Fire Restrictions Policy.

If Your Fire Gets Out of Control Call 911 immediately.

Burn permits help make sure fires are done safely and don’t get out of control. Each permit costs $20 (plus any credit card fees) and is usually good for one year. You can pay when you apply online, and other payment options are available too.

When You DON’T Need a Burn Permit

You don’t need a permit for these types of fires, but you do need to follow the burn regulations:

• Yard debris fires (rural areas only): If your pile is smaller than 6 feet wide and 4 feet tall, and at least 50 feet away from buildings.
• Burn barrels (rural areas only): If the barrel is at least 15 feet away from buildings.
• Campfires, warming fires, cooking fires, and store-bought fire appliances: As long as they meet the size and spacing rules in the burn regulations.

When You DO Need a Burn Permit

Permits are required for:

• Agricultural burning (like ditches, fence lines, and fields – rural areas only).
• Large debris piles (bigger than what’s allowed in the burn regulations – rural areas only).
• Any kind of commercial burning (rural areas only).
• Special fires like bonfires or in-ground cooking pit fires.

If you’re not sure whether you need a permit, call 541-322-6386 and someone will help you out.

Applying for a Burn Permit

Burn Permits are applied for through the City’s Online Permit Center Portal. This includes people who live outside the Bend city limits but are still in the fire district.

Instructions for applying for a burn permit:

1. Create an account in the Portal. (Check your junk mail folder for the confirmation email!)
2. Go to the Special Events & Noise Variances, Burn Permits, and Mobile Food Unit Safety Inspections section and click Apply.
3. When it asks for “quantity,” just enter 1.
4. After you apply, someone will contact you to schedule a site visit to check your location.

Need help? View How-to Videos on Signing Up and Applying

Debris Burning Rules

• If your fire pile is 3 feet wide and 2 feet tall, it must be at least 25 feet away from buildings and fences taller than 6 feet.
• If your pile is 6 feet wide and 4 feet tall, it must be at least 50 feet away.
• Fires larger than 6 feet need a burn permit before you light them.
• All fires must have 10 feet of clear space around them—down to bare dirt.
• Debris burning is only allowed outside of summer months, and only for clean yard waste like branches and pine needles. You can’t burn trash or garbage.

Burn Barrels

You can use burn barrels for debris burning outside the city limits, but you must follow the same rules as open debris burning:

• Keep the barrel at least 15 feet away from buildings and tall fences.
• Make sure it’s not near anything that can catch fire.
• Use a metal mesh lid to stop embers from escaping.
• Clear 10 feet of space around the barrel, down to bare dirt.

Burn Permits

You’ll need a permit for:

• Fires larger than 6 feet wide.
• Field burning.
• Any fire not listed in the burn regulations.

If you’re not sure whether you need a permit, call 541-322-6386 for help. You can also check the Burn Permit section on this page for more info.

Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) Areas

Some places in the Bend Fire & Rescue area are also protected by the Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF). If you live in one of these areas, you might have to follow extra rules, especially if you’re a landowner under the Oregon Forest Practices Act.

For help with ODF rules or permits:

• Call the office in Sisters, Oregon at 541-549-2731.
• Or visit the ODF website.

To determine which fire department serves your address:

1. Go to Deschutes County Dial.
2. Enter your address.
3. Use the interactive map and turn on the Tax Districts – Fire layer.

Important Note: If your address starts with Bend 97707, you’re actually in the La Pine Fire District, not Bend Fire’s area. Check La Pine Fire District’s website to learn more about their burning rules.

If you see illegal or unsafe burning, Bend Fire & Rescue can respond. But before calling 911 or dispatch, please try to talk to the person first—they may not realize there’s a problem. This helps keep fire crews available for real emergencies.

If that doesn’t work, call non-emergency dispatch at 541-693-6911, or 911 if it’s an emergency.

Burning Complaints

You can report burning complaints online through the City’s Online Permit Center Portal. Just go to the Code Enforcement section and click Submit a New Complaint.

Air Quality Complaints

For smoke or odor issues, contact the Department of Environment Quality (DEQ) at 541-388-6146.

DEQ makes sure fires don’t create health hazards or public safety risks. You’re responsible for any smoke, smell, or damage caused by your fire. Burning is not allowed during poor air quality days, high winds, or other unsafe conditions.

Fire danger levels information courtesy of USFS.