New York · Cortland County
Cortland County burn ban
New York keeps no single statewide burn ban list, so nobody — including us — can show you a live Cortland County status on one page. Here's who declares a ban here and where today's answer lives.
Who declares a burn ban here
New York bans residential brush burning statewide every spring — mid-March through mid-May — and DEC can extend burn bans when fire danger stays high. Many towns and both forest preserve parks carry their own rules on top.
Where to check Cortland County today
- Statewide: the NYS DEC carry the statewide picture.
- Locally: Cortland 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 Cortland County fire marshal or burn line before you light.
How dry is it out there
Burn bans follow dry ground — see this week's drought picture. It's usually the best clue to where bans 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.