← Kentucky burn ban rules›Current Fire Restrictions
Kentucky Current Fire Restrictions (2026)
Conditional: Kentucky's fall forest fire hazard season is IN EFFECT now: it began on Thursday, October 1, 2026 and runs through December 15, 2026: during it, burning between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. within 150 feet of any woodland or brushland is illegal (Division of Forestry; the spring season runs February 15 through April 30).
Kentucky's fall forest fire hazard season is IN EFFECT now: it began on Thursday, October 1, 2026 and runs through December 15, 2026: during it, burning between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. within 150 feet of any woodland or brushland is illegal (Division of Forestry; the spring season runs February 15 through April 30). A county burn ban is also in effect in 1 Kentucky county: the Division of Forestry's official County Burn Bans page lists Barren and no others - Mercer and Todd counties have come off the list since LawLert's previous reading. County judge-executives can issue local bans at any time under KRS 149.401 and the Division "isn't always notified when a burn ban is issued," so its list may be incomplete; a ban generally prohibits debris burning, campfires, bonfires, warming fires, open-pit cooking and charcoal grilling (violation is a misdemeanor) — restrictions are set county by county, so confirm with your county judge-executive's office or local fire department before burning. Year-round air-quality rules still limit what may be burned (natural vegetation only; burning garbage or waste is prohibited).
Check the live restriction status: eec.ky.gov →
General legal information, not legal advice — verify important decisions with a licensed attorney.
Current Fire Restrictions in states bordering Kentucky
The same rule in each neighboring state LawLert has verified, from that state’s own official source.
- IllinoisInfo
Illinois has no statewide burn-ban system — restrictions are local. …
Verified Oct 16, 2026 · Source: epa.illinois.gov · Full Illinois rule →
- IndianaConditional
BENTON COUNTY IS UNDER A COUNTYWIDE BURN BAN: on the Indiana Department of Homeland Security's official Burn Ban Map, Benton County Emergency Management reported a Countywide Burn Ban on October 12, 2026 (Benton's entry on the layer last edited October 13, 2026). …
Verified Oct 17, 2026 · Source: services8.arcgis.com · Full Indiana rule →
- MissouriConditional
Missouri has no statewide burn ban, but county burn bans ARE in effect in southwest Missouri. …
Verified Oct 17, 2026 · Source: dfs.dps.mo.gov · Full Missouri rule →
- OhioConditional
Ohio's fall open-burning restriction is IN EFFECT now: it began October 1, 2026 and runs through November 30, 2026. …
Verified Oct 17, 2026 · Source: ohiodnr.gov · Full Ohio rule →
- TennesseeInfo
No active burn bans in Tennessee — the Division of Forestry's burn-ban page states "Currently, there are no active burn bans in the State of Tennessee". …
Verified Oct 17, 2026 · Source: tn.gov · Full Tennessee rule →
- VirginiaInfo
No statewide burning restriction is in effect right now — Virginia's 4 PM Burning Law applies only Feb 15–Apr 30. During prolonged drought or elevated fire danger, individual localities may enact temporary local burn bans; current local status comes from your local government office, fire department or emergency management agency, and the Dept. of Forestry posts a Daily Fire Danger Rating during fire season. Always check with local officials before burning (VDOF Burning Restrictions page).
Verified Oct 16, 2026 · Source: dof.virginia.gov · Full Virginia rule →
- West VirginiaConditional
West Virginia's fall burning season is IN EFFECT now: it began October 1, 2026 and runs through December 31, 2026, and during it outdoor burning is prohibited during the daytime hours of 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., and anything lit in the legal 5 p.m.-7 a.m. window must be completely out by 7 a.m. (West Virginia Division of Forestry fire-laws page; the spring season runs March 1-May 31). …
Verified Oct 16, 2026 · Source: wvforestry.com · Full West Virginia rule →
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