← Tennessee burn ban rules›Current Fire Restrictions
Tennessee Current Fire Restrictions (2026)
Info: No active burn bans in Tennessee — the Division of Forestry's burn-ban page states "Currently, there are no active burn bans in the State of Tennessee".
No active burn bans in Tennessee — the Division of Forestry's burn-ban page states "Currently, there are no active burn bans in the State of Tennessee". Counties CANNOT issue their own burn ban — under T.C.A. 39-14-306 only the Commissioner of Agriculture (or the Governor, regionally/statewide) can. From October 15, 2026 through May 15, 2027, a burn permit from the Tennessee Division of Forestry is required for debris pile fires and prescribed fires, and many counties and municipalities keep stricter local rules year-round. When issued, a Commissioner of Agriculture burn ban bars ALL open-air burning outside municipalities — debris, campfires, cooking fires and charcoal grills (gas/propane grills OK); violating one is reckless burning, a Class A misdemeanor (fine up to $2,500 and/or up to 11 months 29 days). Note: burn bans do not automatically prohibit fireworks. Check local rules before any open burning.
Check the live restriction status: tn.gov →
General legal information, not legal advice — verify important decisions with a licensed attorney.
Current Fire Restrictions in states bordering Tennessee
The same rule in each neighboring state LawLert has verified, from that state’s own official source.
- AlabamaInfo
LawLert cannot confirm Alabama's live statewide status, and here is why: the Alabama Forestry Commission publishes no live statewide status page — it announces restrictions as dated press releases, and announces the end of one the same way, as a separate dated release. …
Verified Oct 17, 2026 · Source: forestry.alabama.gov · Full Alabama rule →
- ArkansasConditional
49 of Arkansas's 75 counties are under a county burn ban: Arkansas, Ashley, Bradley, Calhoun, Chicot, Clark, Cleburne, Cleveland, Columbia, Conway, Cross, Dallas, Desha, Drew, Faulkner, Garland, Grant, Hempstead, Hot Spring, Howard, Jackson, Jefferson, Lafayette, Lee, Lincoln, Little River, Lonoke, Miller, Monroe, Montgomery, Nevada, Ouachita, Perry, Phillips, Pike, Poinsett, Polk, Pope, Prairie, Pulaski, Saint Francis, Saline, Scott, Sevier, Union, Van Buren, White, Woodruff and Yell. …
Verified Oct 18, 2026 · Source: mip.agri.arkansas.gov · Full Arkansas rule →
- GeorgiaInfo
Georgia's EPD summer open-burning ban has ENDED for 2026: EPD's Summer Open Burning Ban page states the ban runs May 1 - September 30 in 54 counties, so it lifted after September 30, 2026. …
Verified Oct 16, 2026 · Source: epd.georgia.gov · Full Georgia rule →
- KentuckyConditional
Kentucky's fall forest fire hazard season is IN EFFECT now: it began on Thursday, October 1, 2026 and runs through December 15, 2026: during it, burning between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. within 150 feet of any woodland or brushland is illegal (Division of Forestry; the spring season runs February 15 through April 30). …
Verified Oct 17, 2026 · Source: eec.ky.gov · Full Kentucky rule →
- MississippiConditional
No statewide burn ban. Mississippi bans are county-by-county: the County Board of Supervisors requests one and the Mississippi Forestry Commission approves it, and in MFC's words "All burn bans expire at midnight on the stated date of expiration." During a ban, anything with an open flame that produces an ember is prohibited — campfires, bonfires, fire pits, fire rings, burn barrels, debris burning and field burning; propane/gas grills, propane/gas heaters and charcoal grills remain allowed. …
Verified Oct 17, 2026 · Source: mfc.ms.gov · Full Mississippi rule →
- MissouriConditional
Missouri has no statewide burn ban, but county burn bans ARE in effect in southwest Missouri. …
Verified Oct 17, 2026 · Source: dfs.dps.mo.gov · Full Missouri rule →
- North CarolinaInfo
No state-issued burn ban in effect: the statewide ban issued March 28, 2026 was fully lifted — 81 counties on May 3 and the final 19 effective 8 a.m. May 8 — and none has been issued since (no ban is posted on the NCFS open-burning page or on the NCFS online burn-permit system, which lists all 100 counties for permit applications). …
Verified Oct 17, 2026 · Source: ncagr.gov · Full North Carolina 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 →
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