Bonfires are allowed by permit only and are limited to five per year per any one parcel of land. The material to be burned shall be natural material i.e. firewood. Shawnee City Ordinance prohibits the burning of Poison Sumac, Poison Ivy, Poison Oak, and any material that is not natural material, i.e. lumber, siding, etc. Bonfires shall be limited to three (3) hours in length and must be COMPLETELY extinguished no later than 11:00 p.m. All burning shall take place in the rear yard, observing the following safety rules:
- Burn only when the wind speed is between 5 and 15 MPH.
- The fire shall be attended by a responsible person at all times.
- Always have a charged garden hose and tools (hoe, rake, shovel) nearby.
- The fire shall not be within 25 feet of any structure, vehicle, or property lines.
- Burn piles shall not be larger than 10 feet in diameter.
Permits may be obtained at the Shawnee Fire Department Headquarters Station located at 6501 Quivira Road during regular business hours, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday, excluding holidays.
There shall be a fee of twenty-five dollars ($25.00) per day (bonfire) for each permit issued regardless of applicants' age or size of property.
The City may waive the permit fee for any state accredited school, non-profit organizations, religious organizations, or government entity for the purpose of celebrating a particular organizations related event.
Flammable or combustible liquids such as gasoline, kerosene, diesel fuel, etc., can be extremely dangerous and should never be used to ignite a burn pile.
For additional information on bonfire permits or burning regulations, contact the Shawnee Fire Department at (913) 631-1080.
Burning shall not be allowed on days that have been declared a "Orange Alert Day" For more information about red alert day check out SkyCast Air Quality Forecast website.