Chapter 612.345-Open Burning Restrictions

1.     All open burning activities throughout St. Louis County (“County”), in unincorporated and incorporated portions of the County, are prohibited.

2.     The following activities are permitted in St. Louis County when not prohibited by other laws, regulations, or ordinances. All other open burning not specifically exempted is prohibited unless approved by the Director.

a.     Recreational Fires

i.                Recreational fires shall be comprised of only untreated seasoned dry fire wood which is free of leaves, needled, yard waste, garbage, rubbish, treated wood, or tree trimmings: and

ii.              Total cumulative base area of the fire(s) shall not exceed nine (9) square feet: and

iii.             The recreational fire shall not cause smoke, ash, or particulate matter to remain visible in the air or upon surfaces beyond the property line where the fire is occurring.

b.     Preparation of food, such as barbecuing:

i.                Fires shall either be contained through recreational food preparation equipment, such as a grill, rotisserie, outdoor cooking stove, or other device constructed for the use in outdoor, noncommercial food preparation; or

ii.              Total cumulative base area for the fire(s) shall not exceed nine (9) square feet; and

iii.             The fire shall be comprised of only untreated seasoned dry fire wood which is free of leaves, needled, yard waste, garbage, rubbish, treated wood, or tree trimmings: and

iv.             The fire shall not cause smoke, ash, or particulate matter to remain visible in the air or upon surfaces beyond the property line where the fire is occurring.

c.      Burning conducted for natural resource conservation purposes:

i.                Fires shall meet the requirements for a prescribed natural resource burn either through the collaboration with subsequent development of a natural resource conservation plan through the Missouri Department if Conservation for the land or burn material in question or approval of the project as a natural resource conservation deemed acceptable by the Air Pollution Control Program. 

d.     Burning of yard waste shall be allowed where:

i.                The property size is equal to or greater than 3 acres, except where the property shares a boundary with the Meramec, Missouri, or Mississippi Rivers there shall be no minimum property size restriction; and

ii.              The burn shall occur from September 15 until April 14 of each year; and 

iii.             Total cumulative base of the fire(s) shall not exceed sixteen (16) square feet; and

iv.             The yard waste is composed of only leaves, needled, brush, tree trimmings, and other similar material which does not include garbage, rubbish, construction waste, demolition waste, petroleum-based materials, plastic, rubber, painted material, coated materials, metal, liquid or solid fuels, or treated wood; and

v.              The fire shall not cause smoke, ash, or particulate matter to remain visible in the air or upon surfaces beyond the property line where the fire is occurring.

e.     Fire Training Exercises:

i.                Fire training exercises in which structures or buildings are burned shall be allowed only with prior approval by the Air Pollution Control Program.

ii.              Fire training activities which occur at designated fire training academy or school locations shall be allowed without prior approval from the Air Pollution Control Program.

f.      Commercial Land Clearing Operation

i.                Commercial land clearing operations shall be allowed as provided in the Missouri Air Conservation Commission Open Burning Requirements Rule except that prior approval must be obtained from the Air Pollution Control Program and an Air Curtain Incinerator shall be utilized in all areas at all times.

Chapter 612.030-Definitions

5. Open Burning means the burning of any materials where air contaminants resulting from combustion are emitted directly into the ambient air without passing through a stack or chimney from an enclosed chamber. For purposes of this definition, a chamber shall be regarded as enclosed, when, during the time combustion takes place, only those apertures, ducts, stacks, flues, or chimneys, as are necessary to provide combustion air and to permit the escape of exhaust gases, are open.