Burn ban lifted

After consultation with Division of Forestry officials, the burn ban in Santa Rosa County has been lifted. Recent rains and moderate humidity have lead to a drop in the drought index. Residents can now burn when following these outdoor burning guidelines:

It is illegal to burn household garbage (including paper products), treated lumber, rubber materials, tires, pesticides, paint, and aerosol containers.

Dry (not green) vegetative debris such as grass clippings, pine straw, leaves, tree limbs and shrub trimmings can be legally burned between 8 a.m. and one hour before sunset if it is in a pile not larger than 8 ft diameter and located on the property where the debris originated and is: not closer than 25 feet to a wooded area or the owner's residence; not closer than 50 feet from a paved public road; and not closer than 150 feet from other occupied buildings.

Burning material in a pile larger than 8 ft. diameter, or burning any area of land, requires an authorization from the Florida Division of Forestry 957-6145, and is subject to additional restrictions.