New Jersey · Cape May County
Cape May County fire restrictions
New Jersey sets fire restrictions land manager by land manager rather than on one county list, so nobody — including us — can show you a live Cape May County status on one page. Here's who sets the rules and where today's answer lives.
Who declares restrictions here
New Jersey fire restrictions come from the state Forest Fire Service, which raises campfire and open burning restrictions in stages as fire danger climbs — no county declaration involved.
Where to check Cape May County today
- Statewide: the New Jersey Forest Fire Service carry the statewide picture.
- Locally: Cape May County's own channels come first — the courthouse, the fire marshal or emergency manager, the sheriff's office, and the county's website or public notices. A local declaration is posted there before it shows up anywhere else.
- Before you strike a match: your local fire department can tell you in one phone call whether burning is allowed today and whether you need a permit.
Rules change fast in dry weather — confirm with the Cape May County fire marshal or burn line before you light.
How dry is it out there
Fire restrictions follow dry ground, and 30% of New Jersey is in drought this week. See the New Jersey drought page — it's usually the best clue to where tighter rules are headed.
Burning on public land instead? County rules stop at the boundary — check the forest's fire restrictions and what stage 1 and stage 2 mean.