Burn bans, permits and campfires by county
Tennessee Burn Ban and Burn Permit Rules
Which Tennessee counties have a burn ban, when a burn permit is needed, and what the rules say about campfires and warming fires on public hunting land.
Photo: Daria Nepriakhina (CC0 1.0)
Which Tennessee counties have a burn ban
Status pulled from Tennessee Division of Forestry on November 14, 2026. Treat it as a starting point and confirm with the county or the agency.
0 Tennessee counties were under a ban on November 14, 2026; 95 were not.
Sources: Tennessee Division of Forestry (tn.gov; services.arcgis.com), checked November 14, 2026.
Burn permits in Tennessee, when and how
When it applies
October 15 through May 15 each year (TCA 39-14-306(a)(1)); required for open-air fires within 500 feet of any forest, grassland or woodland. The state forester may set a different permit period depending on fire hazard. No TDF permit is required in summer.
How to get one
Online at https://tn.firesponse.com/burn-permit/public-restrictions/ (7 days a week, 8 am to 11 pm local time), or by phone 877-350-BURN (2876), Monday to Friday 8 am to 4:30 pm Central, except holidays.
Which fires
Leaf piles, woody debris such as branches, hurricane/storm debris, and prescribed fires.
Exempt fires
No permit is needed for fires in containers or barrels with a 1/2-inch mesh screen cover, ceremonial fires, or grilling. TCA 39-14-306 does not apply inside incorporated towns or cities that have their own fire ordinances. Campfires are not listed as needing a permit, and TDF says permit restrictions do not prohibit campfires.
Burning hours
A permit is good for one day. The fire must be completely out by midnight of the day the permit was obtained.
Sources: Tennessee Department of Agriculture, Division of Forestry (tn.gov), checked November 14, 2026.
Campfires and warming fires on Tennessee public hunting land
TWRA wildlife management areas: Rule 1660-01-14-.13(5)(i) says 'No warming, camping or any type fire shall be allowed except at designated camping areas. Anyone causing a forest fire shall be held liable for the cost of suppression.' So warming fires while hunting a WMA are not allowed outside designated camping areas. Under 1660-01-14-.03(1)(d), areas may also be closed when fire hazards exist. State forests: rule 0080-07-01-.04 allows camping only at designated locations, or by written backcountry permit from the district forester, and limits firewood gathering in campgrounds and picnic areas to dead material on the ground. No separate campfire clause was found in that chapter. National forest (Cherokee NF): fire danger status is posted on the forest alerts page (Low on 2026-10-27).
Sources: Tennessee Department of Agriculture, Division of Forestry (publications.tnsosfiles.com), checked November 14, 2026.
Fire danger and burn ban penalties in Tennessee
Rating system
TDF does not publish its own daily county fire-danger rating. It points to NWS fire weather offices (Memphis, Nashville and Morristown, which issue NFDRS forecasts and red flag warnings) and to the Southern Area Coordination Center's fire danger products. TDF also has 6 Fire Danger Rating Areas (ArcGIS layer Fire_Danger_Rating_Area). Cherokee NF posts a daily adjective fire danger status (Low/Moderate/High/Very High/Extreme).
Liability
Burning without a required permit (Oct 15 to May 15) is a Class C misdemeanor (TCA 39-14-306(a)(2)). Violating a Commissioner burn ban counts as reckless burning, a Class A misdemeanor (TCA 39-14-304, 39-14-306(b)); TDF says this carries a fine of $2,500 and/or up to 11 months 29 days in jail. Violating a Governor's drought proclamation is a Class A misdemeanor (TCA 8-1-108). Leaving a fire unattended within 150 feet of woodland is a Class B misdemeanor (TCA 39-14-305).
Sources: Tennessee Department of Agriculture, Division of Forestry (tn.gov; tn.gov), checked November 14, 2026.
Who to call before burning in Tennessee
- TDF says a burn restriction (permits paused) is not a burn ban, and that media and local governments often mix up the two terms.
- Burn bans do not cover fireworks, since a ban only prohibits knowingly starting an open-air fire.
- Burn bans are enforced mainly by county and local law enforcement, with support from the Department of Agriculture Ag Crime Unit.
- burnsafetn.org redirects to the tn.gov Safe Debris Burning page.
- Storm debris from Hurricane Helene or Winter Storm Fern may be burned if prohibited materials (tires, plastics, asphalt shingles, asbestos, etc.) are removed first.
| Office | Phone | Web |
|---|---|---|
| TDF burn permit line | 877-350-2876 (877-350-BURN) | Open |
| TDF burn safe email | Open | |
| TDEC illegal burning report line | 1-888-891-8332 (1-888-891-TDEC) | Open |
| Cherokee National Forest fire information (Roan Mtn order contact) | 423-819-0233 | Open |
Sources: Tennessee Department of Agriculture, Division of Forestry (tn.gov; tn.gov; tn.gov), checked November 14, 2026.
Gear for Tennessee burn ban days
Amazon links are affiliate links; the site earns a commission on qualifying purchases.
What Tennessee foresters burn and why
Tennessee burn ban questions
Which Tennessee counties have a burn ban today?
0 counties showed a ban when Tennessee Division of Forestry was last read (November 14, 2026). Under TCA 39-14-306(b), the Commissioner of Agriculture, in consultation with the State Forester and at the request of county mayors, issues county burn bans. Counties cannot issue a ban under 39-14-306 on their own.
Do I need a permit for a brush pile in Tennessee?
October 15 through May 15 each year (TCA 39-14-306(a)(1)); required for open-air fires within 500 feet of any forest, grassland or woodland. The state forester may set a different permit period depending on fire hazard. No TDF permit is required in summer.
Can I get a Tennessee burn permit online?
Online at https://tn.firesponse.com/burn-permit/public-restrictions/ (7 days a week, 8 am to 11 pm local time), or by phone 877-350-BURN (2876), Monday to Friday 8 am to 4:30 pm Central, except holidays.
Are fire pits banned in a Tennessee burn ban?
No permit is needed for fires in containers or barrels with a 1/2-inch mesh screen cover, ceremonial fires, or grilling. TCA 39-14-306 does not apply inside incorporated towns or cities that have their own fire ordinances. Campfires are not listed as needing a permit, and TDF says permit restrictions do not prohibit campfires.
Can I have a fire at a Tennessee hunting camp?
TWRA wildlife management areas: Rule 1660-01-14-.13(5)(i) says 'No warming, camping or any type fire shall be allowed except at designated camping areas. Anyone causing a forest fire shall be held liable for the cost of suppression.' So warming fires while hunting a WMA are not allowed outside designated camping areas. Under 1660-01-14-.03(1)(d), areas may also be closed when fire hazards exist.
Is burning without a permit illegal in Tennessee?
Burning without a required permit (Oct 15 to May 15) is a Class C misdemeanor (TCA 39-14-306(a)(2)). Violating a Commissioner burn ban counts as reckless burning, a Class A misdemeanor (TCA 39-14-304, 39-14-306(b)); TDF says this carries a fine of $2,500 and/or up to 11 months 29 days in jail. Violating a Governor's drought proclamation is a Class A misdemeanor (TCA 8-1-108).
Where can I see Tennessee fire danger today?
TDF does not publish its own daily county fire-danger rating. It points to NWS fire weather offices (Memphis, Nashville and Morristown, which issue NFDRS forecasts and red flag warnings) and to the Southern Area Coordination Center's fire danger products. TDF also has 6 Fire Danger Rating Areas (ArcGIS layer Fire_Danger_Rating_Area).
Are there burning hours in Tennessee?
A permit is good for one day. The fire must be completely out by midnight of the day the permit was obtained.
What agency handles burn permits in Tennessee?
TDF burn permit line 877-350-2876 (877-350-BURN); TDF burn safe email; TDEC illegal burning report line 1-888-891-8332 (1-888-891-TDEC).
Call before you burn
This page is a starting point; the county and Tennessee Department of Agriculture, Division of Forestry have the final word on burn day.