Open Burning is Banned in the City of St. Louis
The open burning regulation is contained in
Ordinance 65645, Section 15: "Open Burning Restrictions".
How do I submit a complaint about open burning in my neighborhood?
Call the Citizens' Service Bureau at 622-4800. They will contact the Division of Air Pollution
Control who will send an inspector to investigate the situation and deal with any infraction.
Why does the Missouri Department of Natural Resources prohibit open burning?
Open burning is a very incomplete form of combustion. The by-products of open burning are particulate matter and
volatile organic compounds, which contribute to ground-level ozone and smog production.
In addition, some exhausted compounds are known carcinogens.
Why does the St. Louis area have the most restrictive open burning regulations?
This dates back to the Smoke Control Ordinance of 1941.
Also, St. Louis has unhealthful levels of ground-level ozone pollution.
The pollutants released during open burning contribute to the
formation of ozone when the climatic conditions are right.
These conditions are intense sunlight, low or no wind, the presences of hydrocarbons,
the presence of nitrogen oxides from internal combustion and industrial combustion, and others.
E-mail: Air Pollution Division
Disclaimer: The City of St. Louis APCD has tried to make these referenced pages as accurate as possible. However, none of the text is absolute or final.
burn.htm - Burning / City of St Louis APCD