Noxious Weed Abatement Burning

Noxious Weed Abatement Fires in Spokane County

Background - The Spokane County Noxious Weed Control Board (Weed Board) administers a noxious weed burning program by delegation from the Spokane Regional Clean Air Agency (Spokane Clean Air). Noxious weed abatement fires are for the sole purpose of disposing of noxious weeds identified on the State Noxious Weed List, Chapter 16-750 WAC.

Permit and Fee - A written permit must be obtained from the Weed Board before noxious weed burning may occur. A noxious weed abatement fire permit application must be completed and submitted to the Weed Board 10 days prior to the first proposed burn date. A permit is valid for 30 days. A non-refundable fee of $20.00 must accompany the application. The submittal of the fee does not guarantee approval of the application. If a permit is issued, it will include specific conditions for burning. The Weed Board determines if burning is a desired or proven method to eliminate the identified noxious weed.

To obtain a noxious weed fire permit application, contact the Weed Board by email at weedboard@spokanecounty.org or call (509) 477-5777. For more information, visit their website.

Please note prior to submitting a permit application:

• Burning is not allowed in any of Spokane County's 13 cities, towns or their urban growth areas or inside Spokane County's No Burn Area.
• A site inspection may be performed prior to issuing a permit.

Permit Requests May Be Denied - Common reasons permits are denied:

• The Weed Board determines that fire is not a desired or proven method to eliminate the weeds proposed for burning.
• Smoke impacts on neighbors and regional airshed are likely to occur.
• Material to be burned is within 50 feet of a structure.
• Burning is proposed in an area where it is not possible to provide adequate fire breaks to prevent fire from spreading to areas not permitted to be burned.
• The weedy area to be burned falls under the jurisdiction of the Department of Natural Resources or Spokane Clean Air.

Common Permit Conditions

• Burning is restricted to specified hours during the day.
• Burning material other than natural vegetation is prohibited.
• Burning is prohibited during unfavorable wind directions.
• Persons intending to burn under a valid permit must contact Spokane Clean Air’s Burn Line prior to burning.
• The fire must be extinguished if it creates a nuisance.
• Burning material hauled from other properties is prohibited.

Failure to comply with applicable regulations and permit conditions may result in a fine.

For information about other types of outdoor burning programs, or any other air quality-related topic, contact Spokane Clean Air or call (509) 477-4727.