Burn Permits

All open burning shall be conducted in accordance with the Mesa County Public Health Open Burn rules.

Mesa County Open Burning Code (PDF)

Short-term No Burn Advisories may be issued if there are strong winds, extreme dry conditions, or poor air quality. When a No Burn Advisory is in effect, all open burning is prohibited. 

Agricultural Burn Permit holders who reside in Mesa County, but outside of the City of Grand Junction, can burn year-round. Agricultural Burn Permit holders within city limits can only burn during designated open burn seasons.

What qualifies as agricultural open burning?

Agricultural open burning includes activities related to agricultural or commercial crop production, such as:

• Burning cover vegetation to prepare soil

• Weed control

• Maintaining irrigation and drainage ditches

• Clearing watercourses and fence lines

• Burning orchard tree trimmings

Residential open burning is only allowed on properties one acre in size or larger. Residential Burn Permits are only valid during open burn seasons.

Mesa County dates

• Spring Open Burn Season: March 1 through May 31
• Fall Open Burn Season: September 1 through October 31

City of Grand Junction dates

• Spring Open Burn Season – March 1 through April 30
• Fall Open Burn Season – September 1 through September 30

What qualifies as residential open burning?

Residential open burning includes burning vegetative materials such as:

• Dry weeds

• Dry garden waste

• Clean, dry tree and shrub trimmings less than one inch in diameter