Skip to Main Content

Burn Permit

The Covington Fire Department, nor any other fire department in Tennessee, has the authority to issue burn permits in unincorporated areas (burning is prohibited by Ordinance in the City of Covington). See T.C.A. 39-14-306. The State Division of Forestry can issue such burn permits. Burn permits must be in hand prior to burning.

Burn Permit Required
(1)It is unlawful for any person to start an open-air fire between October 15 and May 15, inclusive, within five hundred feet (500') of any forest, grasslands or woodlands without first securing a permit from the state forester or the state forester's duly authorized representative. Depending upon the potential for hazardous burning conditions, the state forester may prescribe a period other than October 15 to May 15 within which a permit must be obtained prior to starting an open-air fire.(2) A violation of this subsection (a) is a class A Misdemeanor.

Please visit the Burn Safe TN website or call 1-866-4165, for Tipton County residences, to learn more about burn permits and the law.
http://burnsafetn.org/index.html

a flyer notifying tennesse residents they are required to obtain a burn permit if burning outdoors