Talbot County Health Department
Office of Environmental Health
215 Bay Street, Suite 4
Easton, MD 21601

Phone: (410) 770-6880
Fax: (410) 770-6888

Open Monday – Friday 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM

*After hours, on-call service is provided for emergency situations related to but not limited to the following: Pet or human exposure to wildlife, Bite or Scratch from pets to humans; Reports of Illegal Open Burning; Complaints of unlawful discharge of sewage to the ground surface, or waters of the State. Staff may be reached after hours by calling the Talbot County Operations Center at (410) 822-0095. The Dispatcher will then contact the staff member on call.*

COMAR 26.11.07

Prior to any burning by open fire, an application for a permit to burn material by “Open Fire” must be submitted to this office with the required application fee.

General Rules for Open Burning:

• A permit must be secured for each operation, except as provided in ​COMAR 26.11.07.
• No nuisance or air pollution may be created. THE BURN MUST BE AT A MINIMUM 200′ FROM ANY PLACE WHERE PEOPLE WORK OR CONGREGATE, ANY HABITABLE DWELLING, AND/OR ROADWAY.
• No burning in areas where provisions are available for public collection of refuse.
• Provision must be made for proper ventilation of the burning material to avoid excess smoke and to promote rapid and complete combustion.
• No tires, heavy oil, or other smoke-producing fuel may be used to start fires.
• Burning is limited to only those materials generated on site.
• Asbestos materials, plastics, tar paper, vinyl siding, and asphalt shingles are prohibited from burning.
• Notification of the proposed Open Fire to the Talbot County Operations Center is required, (See Burn Permit application for contact information.) Notification to the Operations Center does NOT negate the need for securing an approved Burn Permit from the Office of Environmental Health.
• Additional approval from the Department of Natural Resources, Forest, Park & Wildlife Service may be warranted. (See Burn Permit application for details.)

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