Quick guide to open burning

Quick guide to open burning
Posted on 02/15/2019

Whether you’re looking to burn a pile of winter storm debris or clear a field for fresh spring growth, you’ll need a permit from the Lenexa Fire Department to help make sure you’re protecting the safety of people and property.

Some of our open burning regulations recently changed, and we’ve highlighted open burning regulations for three common types of burning permits below.

The types of burn permits listed here are for burning natural vegetation like branches and brush. No refuse (household trash) or construction lumber materials are allowed to be burned.

Residential burning

Use this permit to: Burn brush, branches, limbs and natural yard waste at home. Residential (one- and two-family dwellings) burning permits authorize the open burning of land clearance materials from the permitted property. 

This permit does not allow you to burn refuse (household trash) or construction lumber materials.

Size/distance rules: The burn pile may not exceed 8 feet in diameter and 6 feet in height and must be located at least 50 feet from structures or combustible materials.

Get a permit: Applicants must obtain a permit from the Lenexa Fire Department station closest to their house. Later this year, residential burn permits will be available online. Applicants must acknowledge and agree to the permit requirements and pay a $25 fee before the permit is issued.

Prescribed burning

Use this permit to: Burn off plants like prairie grasses and wildflowers to promote fresh growth. A prescribed burning permit authorizes controlled open burning for the purpose of vegetation management of stands of prairie grasses and stormwater-related green infrastructure practices.

Lenexa’s stormwater crews use prescribed burning to manage native plants at sites like Lake Lenexa and other city parks.

Distance rules: Prescribed burning may not be conducted within 25 feet of any structure.

Get a permit: Applicants must contact the Lenexa Fire Department Prevention Division at Fire Station #1, 913.888.6380, for permit application. These permits will only be issued the landowner and burning must be supervised by an individual who has completed an approved training course.

Agricultural burning

Use this permit to: Burn off farm fields to prepare for the growing season. An agricultural burning permit authorizes the open burning of vegetation such as grass, woody species, crop residue and other dry plant growth for agricultural purposes.

Distance rules: Agricultural burning may not be conducted within 200 feet of any structure.

Get a permit: Applicants must contact the Lenexa Fire Department Prevention Division at Fire Station #1, 913.888.6380, for permit application. These permits will only be issued the landowner and burning must be supervised by an individual who has completed an approved training course.

For full requirements and restrictions, view Lenexa’s City Codes.


Published February 15, 2019