Burn Permit

Inside City Limits

If you live within the city limits of Portland and plan to conduct any type of outdoor burning, you must either complete the City of Portland Burn Permit E-Form or call the Portland Fire Department at 615-325-5649 to provide your information. Permission to burn will be granted based on weather conditions.

Only small burn piles of leaves, limbs, and tree debris generated from the property where they are burned are allowed. Burning petroleum-based materials, such as plastics, shingles, tires, vinyl siding, carpet, and furniture, is strictly prohibited.

What You Need to Know:

Review the City of Portland Open Burning Ordinance.
Complete the Burn Permit Form below.
Keep a water source (such as a garden hose) within easy reach.
If smoke stays low or drifts into nearby homes, you will be asked to extinguish the fire and postpone burning.
Stay at the burn site until the fire is fully out.
Keep a phone nearby in case the fire gets out of control. In an emergency, call 911 immediately.
The Portland Fire Department reserves the right to deny a burn permit or require an open burn to be extinguished due to weather conditions or other safety concerns.

Open Burn Ordinance (PDF)

Check Weather Conditions

Outside City Limits

Between October 15 and May 15, residents outside the city limits are required to have a burn permit from the Division of Forestry. More information can be found at BurnSafeTN .

City of Portland Burn Permit

First Name*
Last Name*
Phone Number*
Email Address*
Address where you will be burning*
This address is inside the city limits*
1. Yes
2. If No, please contact the the Division of Forestry
Date you are going to burn*
Date you are going to burn
Do you agree to burn only small piles leaves, limbs, and tree debris that are generated from the property where the burning will take place?*
Do you agree to follow the City of Portland ordinance for open burning?*
Do you understand the person(s) burning shall be responsible for any consequences of action or for any damages, injuries or claims resulting from such burning, and are responsible for seeing that all proper regulations, and safety precautions, are carried out?*
Remember to practice the following:
- Burning is allowed between 8:00 a.m. until sundown.
- Avoid burning when weather is dry or windy.
- Keep a water source ready in case your fire should spread.
- Stay with all outdoor fires until they are completely out.
- Avoid burning when your smoke will be bothersome to neighbors.
Electronic Signature Agreement*
By checking the "I agree" box below, you agree and acknowledge that 1) your application will not be signed in the sense of a traditional paper document, and 2) by signing in this alternate manner, you authorize your electronic signature to be valid and binding upon you to the same force and effect as a handwritten signature.
Burn Permit Confirmation
Thank you for your submission. If you have completed all required fields and answered “Yes” to each of the listed questions, you are authorized to conduct open burning in accordance with the City of Portland’s Open Burning Ordinance. Please, ensure all burning activities comply with ordinance requirements at all times. The Portland Fire Department reserves the right to deny a burn permit or require an open burn to be extinguished due to weather conditions or other safety concerns.
1. I agree.
Electronic Signature*
Date Submitted*
Date Submitted

Leave This Blank:

1. Receive an email copy of this form.
Email address

This field is not part of the form submission.
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