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Wood Burning Restrictions | Multnomah County

Check before you burn! It is illegal to use wood stoves or fireplaces on days when poor air quality is forecast.

No Restrictions | Last update: December 26, 10:17 am wood fireplace burner

While there are no restrictions today, to protect your health, we recommend you voluntarily skip any unnecessary fires. Smoke from fires can affect you and your neighbors in various ways. Help spread the word

Updates posted by 11am each day.

Check air quality conditions and burn advisory status every time before you burn.

Burning wood is one of the biggest sources of harmful air pollution in Multnomah County. When poor air quality is expected, we will issue a wood burning restriction. During a restriction, you may not use any fireplace or wood stove. See rules

We will post the current advisory status on this page, social media and in local news channels. Restrictions take effect by noon the same day.

Get alerts by email or text:

Social media: X, Facebook, Nextdoor

You should also check with your local fire departments for fire bans during dry or windy weather.

If you live in Multnomah County, you cannot burn wood when poor air quality is expected. This means you may not use:

There are exceptions for those who must use wood to heat their homes, those with limited income, and during emergencies such as a power outage. Households with an exception should apply for an exemption each year.

The ordinance does not apply to cooking food. Charcoal grills, smokers or wood fired ovens are ok.

You may apply for a wood burning exemption if:

Other temporary exemptions may be allowed, if authorized by the Environmental Health director.

Exemptions expire September 30 and must be renewed every year. You must apply before using your wood stove or fireplace. There is no cost to apply. Apply for an exemption»

Or send us a paper application:

To report a violation on a wood-burning restriction (red or yellow) day, call 503-988-0035 or make a complaint online. We will respond within 1-2 business days.

Oregon's Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) regulates open and outdoor burning.

Backyard burning of yard debris is NEVER permitted inside the burn ban boundary. This includes parts of Multnomah, Clackamas and Washington counties.

As of December 2023, the City of Fairview does not allow any backyard burning of yard debris.

The following cities and fire districts in Multnomah County have their own outdoor burn restrictions:

Smoke from fires can affect you and your neighbors in various ways. To help spread the word, request a free lawn sign

Environmental Health Services 919 NE 19th Ave, Suite 170N *(temporary address) Portland OR 97232 (MAP) 503-988-0035

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