Outdoor burning is prohibited across the unincorporated area of Brown County for 90 days after Brown County Commissioners Court adopted an emergency order on Aug. 10, 2026. The order says the restriction may end earlier if the Commissioners Court or the county judge determines that the circumstances prompting it no longer exist.
The action applies to areas outside incorporated municipalities. The court said conditions in all or part of the unincorporated county create a public-safety hazard that outdoor burning could worsen.
Some activities remain allowed
The ban does not prohibit outdoor burning activities tied to public health and safety when they are authorized by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. The order lists four exceptions:
- Firefighter training;
- Public utility, natural gas pipeline or mining operations;
- Planting or harvesting agricultural crops; and
- Prescribed burns conducted by a manager certified under Natural Resources Code Section 153.048 and meeting the standards of Section 153.047.
Violation could lead to a fine
Under the order, violating the restriction is a Class C misdemeanor. The stated penalty is a fine of up to $500.
The prohibition was adopted under Texas Local Government Code Section 352.081 and other applicable statutes. The order is scheduled to remain in effect for 90 days from its adoption unless it is terminated earlier through the process specified by the county.