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Tennessee

Tennessee Reminds Residents to Get Burn Permits

Free permits are required for outdoor burning in Tennessee from October 15 through May 15, state agriculture officials say.

Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Forecasts

Bold flat-color vector editorial illustration of a small smoldering debris pile at the edge of a forest with a thin column of smoke rising, evoking seasonal burn safety.
Tennessee residents need a free burn permit for outdoor debris burning from October 15 through May 15, and state officials warn permits are paused when fire danger rises. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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The Tennessee Department of Agriculture reminded residents that free burn permits are required for outdoor burning from October 15 through May 15. The Tennessee Division of Forestry temporarily pauses permit issuance when hazardous fire conditions raise wildfire risk.

Why it matters

More than 90% of Tennessee wildfires are caused by human activities, and the permit system helps the state communicate when and where burning is safe. Permits are issued only when fire danger is at an acceptable level.

Tennessee averages about 1,000 wildfires and 18,000 burned acres annually, with more than 90% caused by people. Burning without a permit is a prosecutable Class C misdemeanor.

The players

Tennessee Division of Forestry

The state agency responsible by law for administering the burn permit system and pausing permits during hazardous conditions.

Tennessee Department of Agriculture

The state department that issued the reminder to residents about the free burn permit requirement.

The details

A permit must be obtained the day a person plans to burn a leaf or debris pile of any size or conduct a prescribed burn, either online at Burn Safe TN or through the MyTN app, or by calling 1-877-350-BURN (2876). Fires must be fully extinguished before the permit expires and must never be left unattended.

Timeline

  1. October 15 through May 15: burn permit requirement period for outdoor burning.

  2. Mid-October to mid-May: typical Tennessee wildfire season.

  3. June through September: very low fire occurrence due to humidity and green vegetation.

Seasonal Patterns

Tennessee's permit season runs October 15 through May 15, aligning with the state's wildfire season under the Division of Forestry's statutory permit system. Summer months see very low fire occurrence due to humidity and green vegetation.

Residents planning to burn leaves, debris or conduct prescribed burns must obtain a free permit the same day at Burn Safe TN or the MyTN app, or by calling 1-877-350-BURN (2876). Burning without a permit is a Class C misdemeanor, so check permit status before lighting any fire.

The takeaway

Check for a same-day burn permit and confirm the Division of Forestry has not paused issuance before burning. Keep fires attended and fully extinguished before the permit expires.

Further reading

For broader context on seasonal fire risk, see Forecasts in Tennessee.

More information

Obtain a free burn permit through the Burn Safe TN portal.

Source note: This article includes information reported by Main Street Media of Tennessee -.

Live Poll

Would you get a free burn permit before burning yard debris this season?