Burn Regulations

Pennington County Burn Regulation Guide

East of Highway 79
Restriction Details: Ordinance #726

A residents safety guidance and official resources.

Can I Burn Today?

To determine whether burning is allowed, check the current Grassland Fire Danger Index provided by the National Weather Service:

https://www.weather.gov/unr/rfd

General Rule:

Low / Moderate / High: Burning is allowed, but caution is required
Very High / Extreme: Burning is prohibited

Fire conditions can change quickly due to wind, humidity, and temperature always verify the daily rating before starting any fire.

If you are unsure which applies, verify your location before burning.

Step-by-Step: How to Check Burn Status

• Open the Fire Danger Map:
  https://www.weather.gov/unr/rfd
• Locate Rapid City / Pennington County
• Identify the current fire danger level
• Apply the rule:
  • If Very High or Extreme = Do NOT burn
  • If Low to High = Burn only with caution

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Fire Danger Levels Explained 

Level	Conditions	Burning Status
Low	Fire unlikely to spread	Allowed
Moderate	Some spread possible	Use caution
High	Fires spread easily	Limit burning
Very High	Dangerous fire conditions	Prohibited
Extreme	Rapid, uncontrollable fire behavior	Prohibited

What Type of Fire Do You Have?

Different types of fires are regulated differently:

• Open Fire
  (fire pits, burn piles, cinder block pits)
  Most restricted and closely monitored
• Burn Barrel
  Restricted as fire danger increases
• Outdoor Fireplace
  (with chimney and spark arrestor)
  Typically less restricted, but still subject to conditions
• Grills (Gas or Charcoal)
  Generally allowed, unless extreme restrictions are in place

Location Matters

Your location determines which burn regulations apply:

West of Highway 79
State and federal fire restrictions apply

East of Highway 79
Pennington County Ordinance 726 applies

West of Highway 79

State and Federal Fire Restrictions

Residents west of Highway 79 are regulated primarily by state and federal fire agencies rather than Pennington County ordinance. Requirements vary depending on fire danger, weather conditions, and land jurisdiction.

Who Regulates Burning

If you live outside city limits, burning is governed by:

• South Dakota Wildland Fire Division
• United States Forest Service (Black Hills National Forest and surrounding federal lands)

If you live within city limits, contact your local municipality for specific fire regulations.

Burn Permits (State Requirement)

Most open burning requires a permit issued by the State of South Dakota.

• Apply for a burn permit:
  https://wildlandfire.sd.gov/burnpermits/burnpermits.aspx
• Learn about state fire regulations:
  https://wildlandfire.sd.gov

Check the agency website for guidelines.

Federal Fire Restrictions

If you are on or near federal land, additional restrictions may apply.

• Black Hills National Forest fire restrictions:
  https://www.fs.usda.gov/r02/blackhills/fire/prevention/fire-restrictions

Check the agency website for guidelines.

Air Quality and Open Burning Rules

Burning must also comply with state air quality regulations.

• South Dakota open burning guidelines:
  https://danr.sd.gov/Environment/AirQuality/OpenBurning/default.aspx

Check the agency website for guidelines.

Before starting any fire:

• Check the daily fire danger level:
  https://www.weather.gov/unr/rfd
• Confirm your location (city vs. unincorporated area)
• Obtain any required permits
• Review current restrictions from state or federal agencies

 

Fire & Life Safety

• Can I use a fire pit? Yes, but only when fire danger is below Very High
• Can I burn yard waste? Yes, but it follows the same rules as open burning