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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>345455</law_id><section_number>10.1-1158</section_number><catch_line>Prohibition of all open burning where serious fire hazards exist; penalty</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2026/" slug="2026" current="TRUE" last_updated="2026-08-02">2026</edition><referred_to_by><reference>10.1-1160</reference></referred_to_by><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="38" identifier="10.1">Conservation</unit><unit label="subtitle" level="2" order_by="2" identifier="II">Activities Administered by Other Entities</unit><unit label="chapter" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="11">Forest Resources and the Department of Forestry</unit><unit label="article" level="4" order_by="9" identifier="8">Fire Hazards and Closing of Hunting and Fishing Seasons in Forestlands</unit></structure><text>
						<section><p>It shall be unlawful when the forestlands, brushlands and fields in this Commonwealth or any part thereof have become so dry as to create a serious fire hazard endangering lives and property, for any persons to do any open burning nearer than 300 feet from any such forestlands, brushlands or fields containing dry grass or other flammable <span class="dictionary">material</span>.</p><p>This article shall not be effective until the Governor, upon recommendation of the State Forester, proclaims such a condition to exist in this Commonwealth or any part thereof, and it shall be in effect until the Governor proclaims such condition to have terminated.</p><p>It shall be the duty of all authorized <span class="dictionary">law</span>-enforcement officers of the Commonwealth, counties, and municipalities to enforce the provisions of this section.</p><p>Any person violating the provisions of this section shall be guilty of a Class 3 <span class="dictionary">misdemeanor</span> for each separate <span class="dictionary">offense</span>.</p></section></text><history>1986, c. 188, &#xA7; 27-54.5; 1988, c. 891.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
