Resident asks Live Oak council to identify ordinance behind reported permanent burn ban

At the July 14 Live Oak City Council meeting, resident Susan Duquesne asked the council to point to the specific ordinance that she says would establish a permanent burn ban in the city.

Duquesne, who gave her address as 317 Live Oak, said she reviewed the city code of ordinances and state regulations governing open burning. She told the council the city code clearly prohibits burning garbage and trash but does not expressly address recreational fires such as campfires and outdoor fireplaces. She said Florida regulations recognize recreational fires when they use untreated wood or vegetative debris and when fires are intended and safely extinguished, while continuing to prohibit burning garbage, treated wood and plastics.

"Based on my review of the current code of ordinances, my understanding is that there is no permanent burn ban within the city of Live Oak, whether recreational or otherwise," Duquesne said. She asked the council, if her understanding is incorrect, to identify the specific ordinance so residents can read the law for themselves.

Duquesne said she brought copies of the city and state ordinances and asked the council to make the relevant language available to the public. The council did not announce a clarification or immediate ordinance change during the meeting; Duquesne’s request remained a public-comment request for clarification.

Council staff or the city attorney should review the cited statutes and the municipal code and, if necessary, report back with the ordinance citation or with a proposed clarification.