← Montana burn ban rules›Open Burning Rules

Montana Open Burning Rules (2026)

Conditional: Open burning of yard/land debris is allowed year-round but requires a permit from your local county fire-control authority.

ConditionalVerified Jun 18, 2026

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Open burning of yard/land debris is allowed year-round but requires a permit from your local county fire-control authority. DEQ regulates seasonal periods (fall county-wide restrictions, winter by request in the western zone). Prohibited: garbage, plastics, treated lumber.

Official source: deq.mt.gov →

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

Open Burning Rules in states bordering Montana

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

IdahoRestricted
Outside city limits, any open burning (yard/land debris, crop residue) during Closed Fire Season (May 10–Oct 20) requires a free burn permit from the Idaho Dept of Lands via burnpermits.idaho.gov; crop-residue burning also requires a DEQ permit-by-rule and AQI under 60.
Verified Jun 18, 2026 · Source: idl.idaho.gov · Full Idaho rule →
North DakotaConditional
Open burning of refuse is generally restricted; agricultural crop, land-clearing and right-of-way burning are permissible categories. Some require a DEQ variance (signed by local health unit + fire dept). No burning of tires, plastics or treated wood.
Verified Jun 18, 2026 · Source: deq.nd.gov · Full North Dakota rule →
South DakotaConditional
Open burning of slash piles/yard debris in the Black Hills Forest Fire Protection District needs a temporary permit from SD Wildland Fire, issued Nov 1–Mar 31 and valid only with continuous snow cover. Incorporated towns set their own rules; check with local officials elsewhere.
Verified Jun 18, 2026 · Source: wildlandfire.sd.gov · Full South Dakota rule →
WyomingConditional
Open burning is governed by county commissioners under State Board of Land Commissioners rules; many counties require a permit from the county fire warden and impose seasonal/drought fire bans prohibiting open/debris fires. Rules vary by county — confirm locally before burning.
Verified Jun 18, 2026 · Source: wsfd.wyo.gov · Full Wyoming rule →

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