Individuals:  Individuals must apply for and receive a permit to have a bonfire on the beach.  Permits for individuals are only issued for dates starting with November 16^th and ending with April 30^th. These dates were determined by the environmental window established by regulatory agencies to protect sea turtles.  Locations for bonfires by individuals are limited to four beach access sites:  Access #5, Access #24, Access #35, and Access #39 (one bonfire per beach access site at the same time).  Bonfires must be located within two hundred linear feet of the access. Map of these four beach accesses HERE. Map of all beach accesses HERE.

Permits for Monday through Friday will be issued the day prior.  Permits for Saturday, Sunday, or holidays that fall on Monday will be issued on Fridays.  If you have applied for a permit, you will receive a phone call on the day of issuance, if you do not answer and there is another person who has applied for that same night, the next applicant will be called, and so on until we speak with someone who verbally claims the permit.

Commercial Entities: A commercial entity can apply for and receive a permit to have a bonfire on the beach on a year-round basis.  Commercial entities may apply in advance but must obtain approval and pick up the permit on the date of the fire.  Locations for bonfires by a commercial entity are limited to two beach accesses, Access #5 and Access #39. Bonfires must be located within two hundred linear feet of the access.

All permittees must adhere to the following rules:

• All fires must be extinguished by 11:59 PM.
• All materials burned must be natural, untreated wood and vegetation with a diameter no greater than 30 inches.
• No gasoline, diesel, or other fuels can be used for the burn.
• All fires must be extinguished if winds exceed 10 MPH.
• Burning materials must stay clear of dunes and vegetation.
• There must be a means of extinguishment at the burn site sufficient to readily extinguish the fire; some examples include a buck or pail of water, a shovel to cover the fire with sand or dirt, an ABC-type fire extinguisher.
• The burned materials must be completely extinguished and properly disposed of after the expiration time of the burn permit.  No debris shall be left on the beach or other public spaces.
• The permit must be on hand at the burn site and available for viewing by any Village of Bald Head Island Department of Public Safety personnel (being able to show an electronic copy on your device is sufficient).
• The burning material must be immediately extinguished if directed to do so by any Village of Bald Head Island Department of Public Safety personnel.
• The person requesting to conduct the burn shall be responsible for any and all damages caused by or related to the open burning.

As noted above, the burning material must be immediately extinguished if you are directed to do so by any Village of Bald Head Island Department of Public Safety personnel.  The Department of Public Safety monitors wind speed and will advise extinguishment if wind speed excess of 10 MPH or other safety risks or violations of Village ordinances exist. 

We recommend that you check this website that measures wind speed on Bald Head Island before your permitted bonfire time to make sure that conditions are favorable for burning.   

Click the button below to download the permit application. 

BEACH BONFIRE PERMIT APPLICATION

Applications must be submitted at least 24 hours prior to your requested burn-time.

For more information about open burning on Bald Head Island view the Village’s Open Burning Ordinance HERE.