Burn Permits:

To review the Weld County Open Burning & Air Quality brochure, click here.

You may apply for a burn permit here.

The Fort Lupton Fire Protection District requires burn permits for all types of burning. There is limited burning that is allowed by the Fire District within the City Limits. These include agricultural burns as defined below. The proper procedure for obtaining a burn permit if you reside within the City Limits is that they must go to City Hall, obtain a request for burn permit. The cost is $25.00. If approved, the applicant then must come to the Fire District administration offices with a copy of the letter to obtain a written burn permit authorizing burning. Once that permit is issued, then the applicant may burn the approved materials. A copy of the burn permit must be present on site.

CITY OF FORT LUPTON MUNICIPAL CODE UNLAWFUL BURNING

Sec. 7-91. Open burning unlawful.

(a) It is unlawful for any person to burn or set fire to any rubbish, trash, debris, litter, junk, weeds, brush, grass, landscape waste, tree limbs, commercial business products or waste, or other flammable material within the City or within one hundred (100) feet of the City limits.

(b) It is unlawful for any person to burn or set fire to any flammable material within the City parks unless such fire is contained within a device or facility specifically constructed for such fire or for the preparation of food.

(1) Such burning within the City parks shall be permitted only between the hours of 5:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.

(2) No fire in the City parks shall be unattended at any time.

(3) All fire and hot ashes shall be extinguished prior to leaving the area, and all ashes shall be disposed of appropriately to not cause a further fire hazard, i.e. disposed of in a metal can.

(c) Propane and charcoal cooking grills are not permitted on the balconies/decks of any multi-residential building, i.e., apartment buildings, dormitories, hotels/motels, condominiums. Grills used at single family residences should be kept 10 feet away from structures.

(d) Fires contained in chimineas, fire bowls, or pits shall have spark arrestor screens in place at all times and the fire must be supervised at all times with extinguishing materials (hose with water, extinguisher) nearby.  Open fires must be a minimum of 15 feet away from any structure (including any overhangs).

(e) This Section shall not apply to any fire authorized by an official of the Fire District or Fire Department. (Ord. 539 §3, 1985)

The 2018 IFC also addresses Open Burning in Section 307. Any fire that is deemed hazardous can be extinguished and authorization to extinguish per the fire code. That includes an agricultural burn. These are defined below:

  • Agricultural Burning is defined in Reg. 9, Sec. II.A. as:
    • The burning of cover vegetation for the purpose of preparing the soil for crop production, weed control, maintenance of water conveyance structures related to agricultural operations, and other agricultural cultivation purposes.
    • Open burning of animal parts or carcasses is NOT agricultural burning (unless the State Agricultural Commission declares a public health emergency that requires the burning of diseased animal carcasses).
    • Open burning of weeds, small tree branches, wood, and yard debris on agricultural land is NOT agricultural burning and is NOT exempt from State permitting requirements.
    • Outside of the City limits:

OPEN BURNING INFORMATION OUTSIDE OF THE CITY LIMITS

  • A valid burning permit issued through the Weld County. This can be completed electronically at: (http://www.co.weld.co.us/Departments/HealthEnvironment/EnvironmentalHealth/ Or by calling (970) 304-6415) or Fort Lupton Fire Protection District shall be retained on site by the person supervising the burning and shall be shown upon request to any fire department, law enforcement, or public health official.
  • Failure to comply with any of the above mentioned statutes, ordinances rules or regulations within, may result in making this permit null and void and the penalties therein shall be in force.
  • The permit is valid for two weeks.
  • Burning is allowed two hours after sunrise and two hours before sunset.
  • Permits may be canceled if neighbors have indicated the fire or smoke is a nuisance, risk, or health problem for them.
  • The winds should be less than 5 mph.

Permitted Burning

  • Unpainted / untreated natural wood products, weed, or brush slash piles.
  • Agriculture burning to prepare soil for crop production, weed control / abatement, ditch clearing and other agricultural cultivation purposes.
  • Small branches (less than 1 inch in diameter), tree limbs, weeds, leaves, and tumbleweeds.

Burning Not Permitted

  • Rubbers or plastics
  • Vehicles, trailers, mobile homes, campers, etc.
  • Barns, shelters, sheds, or other structures.
  • Burning of materials that cause a dense smoke or odor
  • Treated wood
  • Furniture
  • Construction waste materials
  • Shingles
  • Chemicals
  • Commercially derived materials. These items must be disposed of by another means such as a landfill.
  • Materials that will cause an emission of hazardous or toxic fumes
  • Open burning of animal parts or carcasses
  • Household Trash

Rules For Safe Burning Operations

  • No burning within 25’ (twenty five feet) of combustibles or structures
  • At no time shall fires be allowed to be left unattended
  • The person responsible for the fire shall have the ability to visually see the entire burn area at all times of the burning operations.
  • A method to extinguish the fire shall be present during burning operations. Adequate water is preferred, but items may include: fire extinguishers, hand tools, dirt, or sand. Tools allowed and available water quantities shall be adequate to the time of year and the anticipated fire behavior.
  • Burning is permitted during daylight hours only and although not required, it is strongly recommended that burning operations are completed by late morning each day. Fires are allowed two hours after sunrise and two hours before sunset.
  • Small ceremonial or recreational “camp” fires do not require a burn permit and are exempt from daylight burning requirements. They must be in a proper fire control pit or bowl.
  • Fires contained in chimineas, fire bowls, or pits shall have spark arrestor screens in place at all times and the fire must be supervised at all times with extinguishing materials (hose with water, extinguisher) nearby.  Open fires must be a minimum of 15 feet away from any structure (including any overhangs).
  • Alternative methods to burning of materials should be considered. Alternative options may include: landfill, lumber for fire wood, chipping of wood for mulch, etc.

Burn Restrictions / Open Burning Notification

  • Possession of an open burning permit does not constitute the authority to burn at any time. Burn restrictions and bans may be implemented on a daily basis by the fire authority or the sheriff for reasons including, but not limited to, weather conditions, resource availability, dangerous burn indexes, high wind conditions, RED FLAG DAYS, etc. Call (303) 782-0211 for restrictions prior to burning.
  • If changes occur in weather conditions after an open burn has been started, the local fire authority or Sheriff may require the fire to be extinguished
  • Should a fire grow out of control, call 911 immediately.

To read the Weld County Open Burning & Air Quality brochure, click here.

You may apply for a burn permit here.