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Maryland Current Fire Restrictions (2026)

Info: Maryland's summer open-burning prohibition is OUT OF SEASON: under state air-quality regulation COMAR 26.11.07.03C, open burning is PROHIBITED June 1 through Aug 31 each year in Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Calvert, Carroll, Cecil, Charles, Frederick, Harford, Howard, Montgomery and Prince George's counties and Baltimore City — and from September 1 through May 31 the local control officer may again issue open-burn permits there (COMAR 26.11.07.03B).

InfoVerified Oct 17, 2026

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Maryland's summer open-burning prohibition is OUT OF SEASON: under state air-quality regulation COMAR 26.11.07.03C, open burning is PROHIBITED June 1 through Aug 31 each year in Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Calvert, Carroll, Cecil, Charles, Frederick, Harford, Howard, Montgomery and Prince George's counties and Baltimore City — and from September 1 through May 31 the local control officer may again issue open-burn permits there (COMAR 26.11.07.03B). Cooking fires and recreational campfires are exempt. In the remaining counties (Allegany, Caroline, Dorchester, Garrett, Kent, Queen Anne's, Somerset, St. Mary's, Talbot, Washington, Wicomico, Worcester), open burning requires a permit from the local control officer. Separately, DNR Forest Service rules apply statewide for burning in or within 200 ft of woodland (free DNR permit, 10-ft firebreak, attendance until out, 4 p.m.–midnight); DNR's fire-rules page posts no current burn-ban declaration — but the DNR Director can declare a complete ban on open-air burning in or near woodland during unusual fire conditions and announces it by news release; no such release appeared on DNR's news page at LawLert's latest check. Counties and towns can impose stricter local rules — check locally before burning.

Official source: dnr.maryland.gov →

Check the live restriction status: dsd.maryland.gov →

General legal information, not legal advice — verify important decisions with a licensed attorney.

Current Fire Restrictions in states bordering Maryland

The same rule in each neighboring state LawLert has verified, from that state’s own official source.

DelawareInfo
Delaware's statewide Ozone Season open-burning ban has ENDED for 2026: DNREC's open-burning page states most open burning is prohibited May 1 through September 30 (7 DE Admin. Code 1113). …
Verified Oct 17, 2026 · Source: dnrec.delaware.gov · Full Delaware rule →
District of ColumbiaInfo
Open burning is prohibited in the District of Columbia year-round. …
Verified Oct 17, 2026 · Source: dcregs.dc.gov · Full District of Columbia rule →
PennsylvaniaInfo
No statewide burn ban (one requires a Governor's proclamation — none active), and the annual state-forest spring restriction (fire rings prohibited Mar 1–May 25) is out of season, though state-forest fires are also barred whenever fire danger is high, very high or extreme. …
Verified Oct 16, 2026 · Source: elibrary.dcnr.pa.gov · Full Pennsylvania rule →
VirginiaInfo
No statewide burning restriction is in effect right now — Virginia's 4 PM Burning Law applies only Feb 15–Apr 30. During prolonged drought or elevated fire danger, individual localities may enact temporary local burn bans; current local status comes from your local government office, fire department or emergency management agency, and the Dept. of Forestry posts a Daily Fire Danger Rating during fire season. Always check with local officials before burning (VDOF Burning Restrictions page).
Verified Oct 16, 2026 · Source: dof.virginia.gov · Full Virginia rule →
West VirginiaConditional
West Virginia's fall burning season is IN EFFECT now: it began October 1, 2026 and runs through December 31, 2026, and during it outdoor burning is prohibited during the daytime hours of 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., and anything lit in the legal 5 p.m.-7 a.m. window must be completely out by 7 a.m. (West Virginia Division of Forestry fire-laws page; the spring season runs March 1-May 31). …
Verified Oct 16, 2026 · Source: wvforestry.com · Full West Virginia rule →

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