OPEN BURNING
Open Burning Regulations
Open burning in Missouri is regulated by the Missouri Department of Natural Resources and each fire district, county or city may adopt their own regulations in addition to the state regulations.
The following cannot be burned in Missouri:
Waste generated by a business, trade, industry, salvage or demolition operation, other materials including but not limited to: tires, rubber products, hazardous materials, Styrofoam, plastics, petroleum based products, demolition waste, treated wood, old appliances, carpet, furniture and any asbestos containing material.
A home owner residing in a dwelling of four units or less but not in mobile home parks or apartment complexes; may burn solid waste produced by routine household activities as long as the waste is produced on site and not otherwise restricted and may burn lawn and yard waste, including trees, leaves, brush and other vegetation, as long as it originates from the location it is burned.
Trees and brush from a land clearing operation may be burnt with proper permitting.
Other state statutes apply to liability from open burning; if a fire you set or allow to burn causes damage to another’s property or causes injury to another you are liable for that damage or injury and could be subject to civil and criminal prosecution.
Local Regulations
The Gravois Fire Protection District requires all persons conducting open burning within the boundaries of the Fire District to make notification prior to conducting any burning. Notification is not required for incinerators and camp fires. Notification does not relieve the parties conducting the burn from complying with any other regulations currently in effect.
To make notification, call the Morgan County Communications Center at 573-378-5481, wait for the menu to start and stay on the line or press 2, an operator will answer: tell them you are going to conduct an open burn, they will ask for your name, address and a phone number where they can call you back.
If open burning advisories have been issued or a ban on burning is in effect the Communications Center Operator will have that information.