Fire Permits

Burning brush - open burning

913-888-6066
(Mon.-Fri., 8 am - 5 pm)

A permit is required for open burning on any public street, alley, road, or other public or private ground unless it meets the definition of a recreational fire. Applications are available online; there is no fee.

Open burn permits generally are not issued in neighborhoods due to complaints.

Once the application is received, a fire inspector will call and schedule an on-site inspection; if the site is satisfactory, the burn permit will be issued.

NOTE: Please contact the Fire Department as far in advance as possible to assist in timely processing of your permit.

AFTER HOURS: A burn permit may be obtained after normal working hours by going to an Overland Park Fire Department station or to Johnson County Fire District No. 2 station.

Open Burn Regulations

The city has rules to keep you safe when open burning occurs.

  • REDUCE HEAVY SMOKE - The burning of heavy smoke producing materials such as heavy oils, tires, tar paper, leaves, etc. is prohibited. The material to be burned should be stockpiled and dried (wood should be dried at least six months) before it is burned. It also is requested to be kept free of excess dirt or other extraneous matter that will inhibit good combustion.
  • CONDITIONS - Burning operations shall not be initiated until at least one hour after sunrise and all active blazes shall be extinguished at sunset. Burning shall not be carried out during inclement or foggy conditions or very cloudy days. In addition, burning shall be restricted to periods when surface wind speed is more than 5 mph and less than 15 mph.
  • DISTANCE REQUIREMENTS - The burning shall be carried out at a minimum of 50 feet from any occupied dwelling or public roadway and at least one mile from any airport. In addition, a 1,000 foot radius applies to all construction and land clearing sites where a pit and blower must be used. The pit must be sized so that 100 percent of the injected air will be utilized in creating a clean burn. Those sites without pits and blowers will be rejected.
  • SUPERVISION REQUIRED - Burning shall be supervised until the fire is extinguished and must not be in violation of the requirements of any local fire authority having jurisdictions in the fire area.
  • AIR QUALITY CHECK - Responsible party for the open burning permit shall contact the closest fire department and the Johnson County Environmental Department, 913-715-6939, each day to check the air quality for final approval to burn.You may also go to www.sharetheair.org to check the daily air quality.
  • REGULATIONS NOT FOLLOWED- The code official shall prohibit open burning which is offensive or objectionable due to smoke or odor emission when atmospheric conditions or local circumstances make such fire hazardous.
    • The code official shall order the extinguishment, by the permit holder or the Fire Department, of any open burning which creates or adds to a hazardous or objectionable situation.