Under Ohio EPA open burning regulations, yard waste—including leaves, twigs, branches, grass, and brush—cannot be burned in residential areas like ours.
The law only allows burning yard waste if all of the following are true:
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You live outside of city or village limits
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Your fire is more than 1,000 feet from your neighbor’s inhabited building – for context, 1,000 feet is roughly 3 football fields in length
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You’re only burning natural, untreated materials
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You’re not burning during air quality alerts
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The fire is not creating visibility or safety hazards
How far is 1,000 feet?
To put it simply:
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1,000 feet = about 3 football fields
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That’s roughly 4–5 times the length of a typical suburban lot
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Most homes on half-acre lots or in subdivisions do not meet this distance
👉 If you can see your neighbor’s house from your yard, you are not 1,000 feet away. That means you cannot legally burn yard waste on your property.
✔️ What Fires Are Allowed?
| Fire Type | Rules You Must Follow |
|---|---|
| Campfires & Cookouts | ✅ Allowed statewide. Must use clean, dry wood in a pile no larger than 2 ft high x 3 ft wide. |
| Ceremonial Fires | ✅ Allowed. Pile no larger than 5 ft x 5 ft, fire must last less than 3 hours. May require EPA notification. |
| Heating Fires (e.g. 55-gallon drum) | ✅ Allowed using clean, untreated wood only. |
| Yard Waste Fires | ❌ Not allowed in Northfield Center or any area within 1,000 ft of another home. |
Even a small fire to burn sticks, leaves, or brush in your backyard is illegal if you live in a typical neighborhood or subdivision.
Why the Restrictions Exist
Burning yard waste can release harmful pollutants like:
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Dioxins, lead, mercury, and fine particulate matter
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These pollutants can worsen asthma, damage the nervous system, and harm the environment
Burning also increases fire risk and can cause serious property damage.
Report Illegal Burning in Our Township
If you see someone burning yard debris, trash, or other restricted materials in Northfield Center Township:
Contact Macedonia Fire Department (non-emergency):
(330) 468.1234
They handle fire safety enforcement in our community and can investigate or respond as needed.
Learn More
This post is based on the official Ohio EPA Open Burning Regulations.
Visit epa.ohio.gov/openburning for full statewide guidance.