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Burn Permits
People wishing to conduct minor open burning with in Cascade County must obtain a Burn Permit from the Cascade County Sheriff’s Office or its designee.
The following information is provided to assist the public with understanding the state laws governing burning in Cascade County and provide specific information about what materials may not be burned at any time. If you have further questions please contact the Cascade County Sheriff's Office at 454-6820.
Burn Permits are available from the Cascade County Sheriff's Office Monday - Friday from 8am -5pm (expect on holidays). There is no cost for this permit. Permits are also available from Belt Discount Parts in Belt.
When applying for a Burn Permit the applicant must provide their name, address, phone number, materials to be burned, resources available at the burn location, section, township, range and # of acres if applicable. If there are special considerations these will need to be listed as well.
Once a Burn Permit is obtained it is valid for 3 months from the date of issue but all permits may be voided by order of the Sheriff at any time. Prior to burning, the permit holder must contact the Sheriff’s Dispatch and advise them of the location of the burn, items to be burned, and a contact person in case of questions or problems. Once the burn is complete, the permit holder must again contact the Sheriff’s Dispatch and advise them that the burn is complete.
Under the provision of State Statute 50-63-103 MCA you are liable for any and all fire suppression costs and damages resulting from an escaped and/or uncontrolled fire. You are liable for your fires despite the fact that you have been issued a Burn Permit. This permit does not allow you to violate any city or county ordinances or state laws governing burning and all permit holders must abide by the State Air Quality Bureau’s "Open Burning Regulations."
For your protection please follow these guidelines when burning:
- Do not set fires during the period of this permit when the weather or other conditions make it hazardous to do so.
- The permittee must have sufficient manpower, tools and equipment at the burn site to control the fire.
- The fire shall be watched by the permittee or his or her agent until no live embers or smoke remain from the fire.
- The Burn Permit covers vegetative material only. It does not cover such items as, but not limited to, household garbage, dead animals, treated wood, chemicals or synthetics such as rubber or plastic.
The following items are prohibited from being openly burned in Cascade County at any time or place.
(Reference Cascade County Open Burning Regulations Section 8-2 Prohibited Open Burning):
Food Wastes
Styrofoam and other plastics
Wastes generating noxious odors
Wood byproducts other than trade wastes, such as Papers or cardboard, unless a public or private garbage hauler or rural container system is unavailable.
Poultry litter and animal droppings
Dead animals or dead animal parts
Tires, rubber materials, asphalt shingles, tarpaper
Automobile bodies and interiors
Insulated wire
Oil and petroleum products
Treated lumber and timbers
Pathogenic wastes, hazardous wastes, trade wastes
Any materials resulting from a salvage operation
Chemicals
The following are portions of the Montana Code Annotated dealing with burning and a link to the State Air Quality Information page:
50-63-103. Liability of offender for damages and costs.
76-13-102. Definitions
76-13-121. Permit for burning required
State of Montana Air Quality Information Page
Information on Air Quality regulations can be obtained by contacting the City / County Health Department at the following location:
Cascade City/County Health Department
115 4th Street South
Great Falls MT 59401
(406) 454-6950
(406) 454-6959 (FAX) |
