Burn permits are good through December 31st of the current year, regardless of when the permit was purchased.

Example: Whether a permit is purchased January 1, 2024 or December 22, 2024 – both expire on December 31, 2024.

A single burn permit is sufficient for the calendar year that it is purchased in. You simply need to activate it each day you plan to burn.

The earliest you can renew your burn permit for the new year is January 1 (ONLINE ONLY).

Example: If you want to renew your burn permit for 2024, the earliest you can renew it ONLINE is January 1, 2024 – OVER THE PHONE is the first business day of the new year.

You only have to purchase a burn permit for $8 ONCE. Every year after is classified as a renewal – which is only $5. This also allows you to keep the same permit number every year.

Yes. HOWEVER:

• Please call ahead to schedule. This ensures someone is available to assist you in a timely manner.
• Please bring EXACT change for your permit. Our department does not keep change on hand.

No, IF THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS ARE MET:

• Has a diameter of 48 inches or less
• Is only being used to cook food/recreationally

Yes. Prohibited burn items are still prohibited (Please refer to what can I burn with my burn permit?)

Naturally occurring vegetation ONLY. Below is a list of PROHIBITED ITEMS put together by MT DEQ in accordance with ARM 17.8.604. The following material may not be disposed of by open burning (see ARM 17.8.604):

• Any waste which is moved from the premises where it was generated unless approval is granted by the department on a case-by-case basis
• Food wastes
• Styrofoam and other plastics
• Wastes generating noxious odors
• Wood and wood byproducts that have been coated, painted, stained, treated, or contaminated by a foreign material
• Poultry litter
• Animal droppings
• Dead animals or dead animal parts
• Tires
• Rubber materials
• Asphalt shingles
• Tar paper
• Automobile or aircraft bodies and interiors
• Insulated wire
• Oil or petroleum products
• Treated lumber and timbers
• Pathogenic wastes
• Hazardous wastes
• Trade wastes
• Any materials resulting from a salvage operation
• Chemicals
• Christmas tree waste
• Asbestos or asbestos-containing materials
• Standing or demolished structures containing prohibited material
• Paint

• In Yellowstone County, residents are allowed to burn year round with a valid burn permit and upon activation.
• Burning is only allowed from sunrise to sunset. All burns must be completed by sunset.
• Due to weather, air quality issues or other applicable conditions burning may be closed on any given day. If burning is closed you are prohibited from burning in Yellowstone County and the website and automated phone system will prevent you from activating your permit.

• If a person burns without having a permit or for violating the rules of a permit, such as failing to activate it as required, violations can be charged under several laws.
• MCA 7-33-2205 & 2206 deal with the fire seasons and permit requirements. Violations under those codes are a misdemeanor with fines possible up to $500 and/or 6 months in jail.
• If a person burns in a manner that is unsafe, damages property belonging to another, or places anyone in danger of injury or death, the arson laws apply. Negligent arson, MCA 45-6-102, can be either a misdemeanor or felony, depending on the circumstances. Misdemeanor charges can cost up to $500 and/or up to 6 months in jail. Felony charges can cost up to $50,000 and/or up to 10 years in prison.
• In all cases, restitution can be ordered separately from the criminal fine. Restitution may include but are not limited to paying damages to other property owners and paying for the firefighting resources.

• You must have enough water, hand tools/equipment, and people to keep your fire under control.
• If you do not activate your permit before burning the Fire Department may respond to your fire even though it is under control because dispatch is unaware it is a controlled burn.
• If the fire escapes your control, you may be cited and fined, as well as having to pay the cost of suppression and any damages caused to someone else’s property.

• Online at https://app.egovmt.com/cgi-bin/burnpermit/burnPermit.cgi?mode=activate_select, enter your burn permit number and follow the remaining steps.
• By calling our automated phone system at 1-855-567-2956
• Please note, when activating a burn permit it is only active for a single day. Should you wish to burn for consecutive days you must reactivate your permit for each day you intend to burn.
• When entering a start and stop time for your burn it is important to be as accurate as possible to avoid potential deployment of fire department personnel.

• To limit the amount of time volunteers spend responding to non-emergency calls and instead allow them to focus on true emergencies.
• To prevent the unnecessary response of fire departments with active lights and sirens that put them and the public at greater risk for potential accidents.
• To limit the number of calls placed to the emergency dispatch (911) and reserve their efforts for true emergencies.
• To track the locations of all approved burns in Yellowstone County so dispatch can more easily determine whether a smoke plume/fire is an emergency such as a wildfire or structural fire. By tracking approved burns the fire department may not have to be dispatched each time smoke/fire is reported.