§ 10.5-75. Open burning prohibited.

(a)

A ban on backyard burning of yard debris, burning of lands for any reason, recreational fires, and burning of unauthorized piles of debris not approved by the Florida Division of Forestry may be initiated countywide, or for any portion of Lake County, by the county manager or designee upon a finding that the following conditions have been met:

(1)

The Keetch-Byram Drought Index (KBDI) for all or any portion of Lake County has a rating of five hundred (500) or more as provided by the Florida Division of Forestry; and

(2)

The KBDI rating of five hundred (500) or more for all or any portion of Lake County is maintained for a period of at least three (3) weeks as provided by the Florida Division of Forestry.

(b)

The ban on open burning shall stay in effect for so long as both conditions under subsection (a) are satisfied, or may be dissolved sooner by the county manager or designee upon a finding that the ban is no longer in the interest of the public health, safety and welfare.

(c)

Open burning is defined as the burning of any matter in such a manner that the products of combustion resulting from the burning are emitted directly into the outdoor atmosphere without passing through a stack or chimney.

(d)

For purposes of this section, "recreational fires" are defined to mean an outdoor fire burning materials other than rubbish; provided, however, that the fuel being burned in an outdoor fireplace, barbeque grill or barbeque pit, that has total fuel area of three (3) feet or less in diameter and two (2) feet or less in height is excluded.

(Ord. No. 2002-75, § 2, 9-17-02; Ord. No. 2017-32, § 2, 7-25-17)