Burn Permit Guidelines

Newton, and Cache County, follow the open burning guidelines administered by the Utah Department of Air Quality. In the spring and fall the DAQ designates open burning dates and during these times you may apply for a burn permit. To apply for a burn permit, click on this link to reach the online burn permit application page: Burn Permit Application.

Once you arrive at the permit application site, choose the city where you will be burning - Newton or Cache County. Select the type of permit you are applying for then click on the “Start Burn Permit Application” button and complete the applicable fields on the permit screen. Once your application is complete please print the confirmation and retain the confirmation in case you need to present it to a fire department or law enforcement official.

***If you are not able to complete the online permit application yourself, or If you have questions regarding the burn permit process and how it applies to Newton and the surrounding area, please contact a fire department official. Contact numbers for the fire department officers have been included in the Newton Town Phone Directory, or you may call the Cache County Fire District at 755-1670.

The following additional information regarding burn permits comes from the State of Utah DAQ website:

DAQ rules governing open burning can be found in the Utah Administrative Code (UAC) R307-202. This rule allows open burning of clippings, bushes, plants, and prunings from trees incident to property and residential clean-up activities, provided that the following conditions have been met:

• The clearing index is 500 or greater. The clearing index is a measure of the atmospheric mixing and wind speed. A clearing index of 500 or less is considered poor atmospheric ventilation.
• An open burn permit application must be completed and a valid permit issued by the county or municipal fire authority prior to burning. See instructions and a link to the open burn permit application.
• Permits may be issued between March 1 and May 30 and between September 15 and November 15 in the counties of Washington, Kane, San Juan, Iron, Garfield, Beaver, Piute, Wayne, Grand, and Emery.
• Permits may be issued between March 30 and May 30 and between September 15 and October 30 in all other areas of the state.
• Materials to be burned are thoroughly dry and no trash, rubbish, tires, or oil are included in the material to be burned, used to start fires, or used to keep fires burning.

The guidelines for burning after you have received a permit are as follows:

• Ordinary combustibles only: Tree trimmings, yard and garden waste - no chemicals or fuels or construction materials.
• Your fire MUST be attended at all times.
• Your fire MUST be extinguished in the last half hour before dark.

If your fire extends beyond your control you should immediately call the fire department via 911.

Agricultural permits for areas of Cache County Fire District Zone 5 (surrounding Newton) are available through the DAQ Burn Permit Application website. Although the dates when agricultural fires may be lit are expanded, agricultural fires must be attended at all times and must be extinguished in the last half hour before dark.

If you have any questions about the burn permit procedure, feel free to contact one of the Newton Fire Department officers.

Thanks for your compliance with the burn permit ordinance of Cache County!