Open burning in the City of Scottsboro is authorized with a permit from the fire department by Sec. 14-1 in the Code of Ordinances (Ordinance #197). There is no charge for open burning permits. Permits are issued over the phone daily and typically expire at the end of that day.

Cooking and recreational fires do not require an open burning permit. Ceremonial fires (bonfires) do require a permit for open burning.

In accordance with Alabama Department of Environmental Management regulations, permits for the clearing or maintenance of land may be issued only if:

Only vegetation or untreated wood may be burned;

The burning takes place on the property which the combustible fuel originates;

The location of the burning must be at least 500 feet from the nearest occupied dwelling other than a dwelling located on the property which the burning is conducted;

The burning must be controlled so as to avoid creating a traffic hazard on any public road, street, or highway as a result of the air contaminants emitted;

Initial burning may be commenced only between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. No combustible material is to be added to the fire between 3:00 p.m. and 8:00 a.m. the following day;

The fire shall be attended at all times.

All open burning inside the city limits is at the discretion of the Fire Chief. Local conditions such as wind or drought dictate the issuance of permits. The issuance of a burning permit does not exempt or excuse a person from the consequences, damages, or injuries which may result from such conduct, nor does it exempt or excuse a person from complying with all applicable laws, ordinances, regulations, and orders of governmental entities having jurisdiction. Open burning permits may be revoked at any time at the discretion of the Fire Chief.

Residents not inside the city limits should contact the Alabama Forestry Commission or call 1-800-392-5679 for information regarding burn permits 

Pre-Incident Planning Firefighters perform pre-plans for non-residential structures inside the city limits. On-duty fire crews visit the locations and document any special hazards and other information that may help in times of an emergency. They take building measurements, calculate the required amount of water in case of a fire, and note where utility disconnects are. They also note the number of potential occupants and document the available entrances and exits. Pre-plans are voluntary, but doing so can help fire crews save lives and property. If you would like to schedule a pre-plan for your business or organization, please give us an email (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) or call (256-574-2617).