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Colorado County enacts 90-day outdoor burning restriction citing public safety hazard
Summary
The Commissioners Court adopted a 90‑day order restricting outdoor burning in unincorporated Colorado County under Texas Local Government Code §352.081(c)(2), with a set of enumerated exceptions and civil penalties for violations.
The Colorado County Commissioners Court voted March 9 to restrict outdoor burning in the county's unincorporated areas for 90 days under Texas Local Government Code §352.081(c)(2). The order, adopted unanimously, makes most outdoor burning prohibited but preserves specific exceptions and precautionary measures.
Allowed activities (with supervision and safety measures) include burning household trash in enclosed, mesh-covered receptacles; barbecue cooking in above-ground enclosed grills; controlled agricultural burns with defensible space and suppression tools; certain TCEQ-authorized activities (firefighting training, public utility/mining operations, crop planting/harvesting burns) and refuge maintenance activities. The order also includes detailed safety conditions for outdoor welding and requires nonprofit and religious groups to coordinate with local fire departments in advance.
The order states that a violation may result in a Class C misdemeanor citation, with fines up to $500, and instructs peace officers to enforce the restrictions if they determine a responsible person is in violation. Judge Prause noted contact points for questions about exceptions are 9-1-1 or the county judge’s office.
