Control of open burning.
Tulsa Revised Ordinances tit. 17, § 707
in effectSection 707. - Control of open burning.
A. Purpose. It is the purpose of this regulation to establish controls in the open burning of combustible material to prevent undesirable levels of air contaminants in the atmosphere.
B. Open burning restrictions. No person shall cause, suffer, allow or permit the open burning of refuse, trade waste, salvage waste, agricultural waste or other combustible material except as may be allowed in compliance with Subsection C herein.
C. Exceptions to restriction against open burning.
1. Regardless of provisions of Subsection B, in areas of low population density in which no private or municipal refuse service is available, the open burning on residential premises of refuse originating in dwelling units on the same premises shall not be a violation of this code. The Director of Health, after consultation with public agencies and private facilities concerned with refuse collection and disposal, shall select and publish the specific boundaries of areas in which such open burning of refuse will not be in violation of this code. In selecting such areas, he shall issue a density of one (1) dwelling unit per ten (10) acres as an approximate definition of areas of low population density. The Director of Health shall select and publish revised boundaries of such areas at least once every two (2) years to reflect changes in population density and available refuse service.
2. Outdoor burning in connection with the preparation of food shall be permitted.
3. Campfires and fires used solely for recreational purposes or for ceremonial occasions shall be permitted.
4. Fires set for purpose of training public or private fire-fighting personnel shall be permitted with the approval of the Director.
5. Fires set or required by a public officer for the abatement of nuisances and which are necessary in carrying out public health functions shall be permitted with the approval of the Director.
6. The burning of trees, brush and shrubs in a properly designed, operated and maintained open pit incinerator is permitted on the premise from which the trees, brush and shrubs originated if approval prior to burning has been granted by the Director.
7. The open burning of trade wastes may be permitted when it can be shown that such open burning is necessary and in the interest of public health. Any person intending to engage in open burning of trade wastes shall file a request with the Director of Health. The request shall be made on forms provided by the Tulsa City-County Health Department. The Director shall respond to the request within three (3) working days after receipt of request.
8. The open burning of plant life grown on the premises in the course of any agricultural operation may be permitted when it can be shown that such open burning is necessary and in the interest of public health. Any person intending to dispose of plant life by open burning shall file a request to do so with the Director of Health on forms provided by the Director.
9. Any open burning permitted under provisions of paragraphs 1, 6, 7 and 8 shall be begun only during the following time period: from three (3) hours after sunrise until three (3) hours before sunset. Additional fuel may not be intentionally added to the fire except during the time period prescribed herein.
Source: City of Tulsa, Revised Ordinances and City Charter (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/ok/tulsa/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=COOR_TIT17HERE_CH7CLAICO_S707COOPBUFetched: 10/28/2026