Burn Bans

Kansas has no statewide emergency burn ban, but open burning is prohibited by default statewide under K.A.R. 28-19-645: "a person shall not cause or permit the open burning of any wastes, structures, vegetation, or any other materials on any premises" except as authorized by K.A.R. 28-19-647 (advance approval plus notifying the local fire-control authority) and 28-19-648 (agricultural, range-management and recreational exemptions) — re-read September 29, 2026 in KDHE's published air-quality regulations. COUNTY BURN BANS: county commissions and fire districts declare their own bans, often for a set number of days, and no Kansas state agency publishes a statewide list of them, so LawLert cannot name which counties have one in force today — check your county emergency management or fire department before any outdoor fire. DURING APRIL, in 16 counties, K.A.R. 28-19-645a SUPERSEDES the default rule with a stricter one: Butler, Chase, Chautauqua, Cowley, Elk, Geary, Greenwood, Johnson, Lyon, Marion, Morris, Pottawatomie, Riley, Sedgwick, Wabaunsee and Wyandotte — which includes the Kansas City and Wichita metros. In April in those counties only range or pasture management and CRP burns meeting K.A.R. 28-19-648(a)(1)-(4), residential burning on a premise of five or fewer dwelling units incidental to normal habitation (unless the local authority prohibits it), and cooking or ceremonial fires on land regularly used for recreation stay exempt; crop-residue, wildlife-management and watershed-management burning are NOT exempt in April. Red Flag Warnings recur — where one or a county ban is active, do not burn. Notify your local fire authority before any otherwise-permitted burn.