BOLIVIA, NC — Local officials are reminding residents across Brunswick County’s unincorporated areas that local open burning restrictions remain active, even as state-level forestry permits continue to operate under separate regulations.
Following recent confusion regarding burning status across the county, officials clarified the exact jurisdictional boundaries governing open burning enforcement.
Coastal Carolina News reached out to Assistant Fire Marshal Josh Smith of the Brunswick County Fire Marshal’s Office, authority over open burning is strictly determined by distance from existing structures:
“The county jurisdiction is anything within 100 ft of a structure on the property. If it is over 100 ft from a structure or land clearing, that falls under NC forestry jurisdiction and they do not have a ban in effect.”
Under the current county order, all open burning within 100 feet of any structure remains strictly prohibited within unincorporated Brunswick County.
However, because the North Carolina Forest Service does not currently have a state-wide or regional burning ban in place, agricultural operations, land clearing, and controlled burns located more than 100 feet away from a structure remain permissible, provided property owners obtain the required state burn permits.
Residents living within incorporated municipality limits (such as town or city borders) should consult their local town hall or municipal fire officials, as local town ordinances govern burning within municipal boundaries.
For questions regarding local burn restrictions, residents can contact the Brunswick County Fire Marshal’s Office directly at 910-253-2041.
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