Open Burn Program

The Open Burn Program regulates open outdoor burning in order to limit pollution. Bonfires, cooking, and burning piled vegetative material are conditionally allowed, i.e. no permit needed. The conditions include time restrictions, notifying the fire department, and complying with fire safety codes. Research and development activities, explosives, fire fighter/rescue training, forest management, etc require a permit from the Air Quality Division. Otherwise, open burning is generally prohibited.

Environmentally poor burning substances produce dense, noxious, and/or toxic fumes and smoke and must not be burned. Environmentally poor burning substances include but are not limited to: refuse, paper, rubbish, books, magazines, fiberboard, packaging, rags, fabrics, animal waste, waste oil, liquid or gelatinous hydrocarbons, tar, paints and solvents, chemically treated wood, plastic or rubber, compact discs and other electronic media, hazardous or toxic substances, and interiors of wrecked vehicle bodies.

Prior to burning, there are two “burn lines” that residents of the Albuquerque metro area must call. The Environmental Health Department is concerned with pollution and maintains a burn line at (505) 768-BURN (2876). On winter No-Burn advisory days that are Red, no open burning is allowed. The Fire Department is concerned with safety (e.g. wind and drought) and maintains a separate burn line at (505) 768-4200. Both authorities must be obeyed. In other words, if one of the messages says it’s okay to burn and the other message says it’s NOT okay, then it is NOT okay to burn.

For conditionally allowed burning of dead and dry weeds as well as piled vegetative material, burn hours are from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. October 1st through March 31st, and 6:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. April 1st through September 30th. There are no time restrictions on bonfires or cooking. At any time the Fire Department can request that you end your burning activities. In addition to calling the burn line recordings, notify the Fire Department before you drop the match. You don’t want the fire department responding to the smoke from your fire when there’s a real emergency somewhere else!

Dead and dry weed removal must be limited to 10 acres per day. Piled vegetative material must be limited to 1000 cubic feet per day. Burning more than 10 acres or 1000 cubic feet per day triggers the smoke management/prescribed burning part of the open burning regulation and requires a special permit. Due to the paperwork involved and special requirements, prescribed burning permits are generally the province of the Forest Service and other land management agencies.

More Open Burn Information

• Open Burn/Smoke Management Forms
• For open burning complaints please call 768-1972, or go here.
• If you have questions concerning the open burn program call (505) 768-1972 or email aqd@cabq.gov.
• Open Burning regulation 20.11.21 NMAC is available from the New Mexico Administrative Code (NMAC) web site (13kb)