Burn Bans

West Virginia's fall burning season is IN EFFECT now: it began October 1, 2026 and runs through December 31, 2026, and during it outdoor burning is prohibited during the daytime hours of 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., and anything lit in the legal 5 p.m.-7 a.m. window must be completely out by 7 a.m. (West Virginia Division of Forestry fire-laws page, re-read October 1, 2026; the spring season runs March 1-May 31). West Virginia has no statewide burn ban beyond this seasonal rule. Year-round rules still apply whenever you burn: only vegetative material (leaves, brush, yard clippings); a cleared safety strip or ring at least 10 feet wide fully around the pile; the fire must be attended until completely extinguished; spark arrestors required on spark-throwing machinery. Even in burning season, small fires for cooking, warmth or light are excluded if 10 feet around them is cleared, as is burning when the ground is covered by an inch or more of snow. Penalties: negligence fines run $100-$1,000 plus a $200 civil penalty, and the State recovers its full suppression costs from whoever caused the fire. Commercial burning during a prohibited period needs a Division of Forestry permit. Counties and municipalities can impose their own bans — check locally.