Florida burn bans › Jefferson County

Is there a burn ban in Jefferson County, Florida today?

No. As of November 5, 2026, Jefferson County, Florida does not have a burn ban in Florida Forest Service data. Conditions can change quickly in dry weather, and state and local burning rules still apply.

What a burn ban would mean in Jefferson County

A burn ban prohibits or restricts outdoor burning — burning household trash, brush piles, leaves, fields, and open campfires — while dry conditions make wildfires likely.

In Florida, a burn ban is issued by the board of county commissioners, usually by declaring a state of local emergency under the county's emergency powers, under §252.38(3)(a), Florida Statutes.

Separately from county bans, the Commissioner of Agriculture may declare a drought emergency burning ban covering part or all of the state under §590.081, which makes wildland fires, campfires, bonfires and trash burning unlawful without a written Florida Forest Service permit.

Common exceptions

• Attended cooking on a gas or charcoal grill, or in a contained cooking device, is exempt under most county orders.
• Burns authorized by the Florida Forest Service — agricultural, silvicultural, prescribed and land-clearing burns — are generally exempt, because FFS authorisation is a separate statewide system.
• Consumer fireworks and sparklers are often added to the prohibition rather than exempted from it. Several counties ban fireworks alongside burning.

Penalties for violating a burn ban

Where a ban is issued as a local emergency order, violating it is a second-degree misdemeanor under §252.50, punishable by up to 60 days in jail and a fine of up to $500. Burning without a Florida Forest Service authorization is separately a second-degree misdemeanor under §590.125(2)(d), and you can be billed for the cost of putting the fire out.

How long does a burn ban last?

A state of local emergency runs for 7 days and may be extended in further 7-day increments for as long as conditions require, under §252.38(3)(a). In practice most counties review their burn ban weekly.

Neighbouring county status

Frequently asked questions

Is there a burn ban in Jefferson County right now?

No. As of November 5, 2026, Jefferson County does not have a burn ban per Florida Forest Service data.

What is the penalty for violating a burn ban in Florida?

Where a ban is issued as a local emergency order, violating it is a second-degree misdemeanor under §252.50, punishable by up to 60 days in jail and a fine of up to $500. Burning without a Florida Forest Service authorization is separately a second-degree misdemeanor under §590.125(2)(d), and you can be billed for the cost of putting the fire out.

Who issues and lifts burn bans in Jefferson County?

Burn bans in Jefferson County are issued by the board of county commissioners, usually by declaring a state of local emergency under the county's emergency powers, under §252.38(3)(a), Florida Statutes. A state of local emergency runs for 7 days and may be extended in further 7-day increments for as long as conditions require, under §252.38(3)(a). In practice most counties review their burn ban weekly.

How would I find out if Jefferson County enacts a burn ban?

This page is updated every day from Florida Forest Service data, so a new Jefferson County ban appears here within a day. You can also sign up for our free email alert.

Data source: Florida Forest Service, checked daily. Generated with live data on November 5, 2026 at 3:18 PM EST.