Spring Open Burn Season Ready to Begin in Mesa County

Mesa County Public Health (MCPH) will begin accepting residential burn permit applications this week. Spring burn season begins on March 1 and runs through April 30 for the City of Grand Junction and through May 31 for the rest of the county. Within Grand Junction city limits, agricultural burning is permitted only during the designated fall and spring seasons. Outside of the city, agricultural burning is allowed year-round. MCPH issues permits for everyone in the county, including those within city limits. 

COST

Residential permits cost $25 and are valid during both designated burn seasons for the calendar year. All  proceeds from the permits support local fire protection districts. Agricultural burn permits are free. 

HOW TO APPLY

The easiest way to obtain a permit is through the MCPH online system. The permit will be emailed to you right after check out. If you need assistance navigating the online portal, call our team at 970-248-6900. You can also apply in person at the Health and Human Services Building at 510 29 ½ Road in Grand Junction. 

CHECKING AIR QUALITY

Once you have a permit, it’s important to monitor air quality, weather, and other safety alerts. Burn permits are not valid if there is a red flag warning, fire restriction, or a no burn advisory in place. Air quality information can be found on MCPH’s website. The Air Quality page makes tracking air quality conditions and advisories easy to access.

ALTERNATIVES TO BURNING

Open burning pollutes the air and poses a fire hazard. Consider alternatives, such as composting or wood chipping, if possible. The Mesa County Organic Materials Composting Facility at Mesa County Solid Waste, 3071 U.S. Hwy 50, accepts organic materials like leaves, grass clippings, tree limbs, hay, and straw from Mesa County residents.