Snohomish County Stage 2 Burn Ban Update: What to Do With Branches and Brush

Updated August 20, 2026: Snohomish County remains under a Stage 2 burn ban. All outdoor burning is prohibited, including residential yard-debris fires and recreational fires in fire pits. Outdoor burn permits are also suspended. If pruning or cleanup leaves you with branches and brush, do not burn them. Your practical choices are to delay nonessential work, stage the debris safely, use an approved yard-waste option, or arrange qualified help after checking local rules.

The restriction remains in effect until the county changes it. Check the Snohomish County outdoor burning page or call the county’s burn-ban hotline at 425-388-3508 before making plans.

What does the Stage 2 burn ban mean for yard debris?

You cannot use an outdoor fire to dispose of branches, leaves, clippings, or other yard debris. Snohomish County announced the Stage 2 restriction on August 6, 2026. It took effect at 12:01 a.m. on August 7 and remains in place until further notice.

The county notice includes limited language about certain cooking appliances. This guide does not interpret those exceptions for individual properties or devices. A cooking exception does not make a debris fire legal. Read the official Stage 2 burn-ban notice and contact the county or your fire authority if you have a specific question.

Should you prune now or wait?

Delay nonessential pruning if you do not have a confirmed plan for the debris. Waiting may be simpler than creating a large pile that cannot be burned or accepted by your usual collection service.

Before approving pruning work, decide:

• How much branch and brush material will the work produce?
• Can it remain on the property without blocking a road, sidewalk, driveway, gate, or building access?
• Does your yard-waste provider accept that type and size of material?
• Does a transfer, compost, or drop-off site serve your address?
• Will the work affect a tree near electrical lines?
• Does your city require approval because of the tree’s location or property rules?

If these questions do not have clear answers, pause the project except when a qualified professional or public agency advises that work is needed for safety.

What should you do with branches and brush?

Choose an option based on the amount, the material, and the rules at your address. Washington’s Department of Ecology lists composting, chipping, curbside collection, cleanup events, and approved drop-off locations as alternatives to burning. It also advises residents to confirm availability with their local government or waste company.

Do not assume a facility accepts every type of woody debris. Limits can differ for leaves, brush, branches, logs, stumps, diseased plants, and mixed loads. Fees and collection schedules can also change. Verify the rules for the specific address and load before moving anything.

How can you stage debris while waiting?

Keep temporary piles contained and away from places people need to use. From ground level, choose a location that does not block emergency access, a driveway, a walkway, a drainage route, or access to utility equipment. Keep branches out of streets and public rights-of-way unless the responsible agency has given permission.

A temporary pile should not become a reason to take on unsafe cutting or lifting. Do not climb, use a chainsaw without the right training and equipment, work from a roof, or handle large suspended limbs to make a pile smaller. Keep children and pets away from sharp or unstable material.

Property managers and HOA boards should record the pile location, the date it was created, the planned disposal method, and who is responsible for the next step. This helps prevent the same debris from being overlooked during a longer ban.

Can branches be composted or used as mulch?

Small plant material may be compostable, while larger woody branches usually need a different plan. Washington State University notes that unprocessed woody branches decompose slowly and can make a compost pile hard to manage. Its guidance suggests separately piling woody material, processing it into suitable mulch, or using an accepted municipal yard-debris container.

Wood chips can be useful as surface mulch when they are suitable for the site. However, that does not mean every branch pile can or should be processed at home. Chippers and similar equipment require proper training and safe work practices. This article does not provide equipment-use instructions.

Before placing any material in a compost or yard-waste bin, check the provider’s accepted-material list. Keep plastic bags, wire, treated wood, construction waste, and other contaminants out of organic material.

What if the branches are near power lines?

Contact the utility before any tree work near electrical lines. Do not approach the branches to identify the wire or measure the distance yourself. Do not use a ladder, pole tool, or measuring device near the line.

Snohomish County PUD’s tree-trimming guidance says work within 10 feet of a primary conductor must be performed by a qualified electrical worker. This is utility-clearance work, not ordinary homeowner pruning.

If a line is down, stay at least 30 feet away and report it to Snohomish PUD. If the line is sparking, causing a fire, touching an occupied vehicle, or creating another immediate life-safety threat, call 911. Follow the PUD’s current fallen-power-line instructions.

Do you need city approval before pruning?

Permit and approval rules depend on the property’s jurisdiction and the tree’s location. Do not assume that one Snohomish County city’s rules apply in another city or in an unincorporated area.

For example, the City of Everett says approval may be required for cutting or pruning in critical areas and their buffers. Approval rules can also affect trees in developments with required landscaping. The City of Mill Creek lists tree-removal permits among its development resources. These examples apply only within those cities.

Ask the correct city or Snohomish County office before work if the tree is in a critical area, buffer, development landscape, street area, easement, or other regulated location. A burn ban does not cancel permit requirements.

Pruning-page update: plan for debris before the first cut

During a burn ban, debris planning should be part of every pruning decision. Add the following check to the property’s pruning plan:

1. Confirm that the pruning is needed now.
2. Estimate how much debris it will create without entering an unsafe area.
3. Check for utility lines and contact the utility first when lines are involved.
4. Verify city or county approval requirements.
5. Confirm collection, composting, processing, or drop-off rules for the address.
6. Set a safe temporary staging area before work begins.

For more general planning, see our Pacific Northwest pruning and trimming guide. Fire-season planning is also covered in the site’s Snohomish County fire-season tree guide.

Need help deciding the next step?

If there is an immediate danger, call 911. For branches or trees near electrical lines, contact the utility first. Direct permit questions to the city or county with authority over the property.

If you need help deciding the safest next step for a tree on your property, request a tree assessment from Comprehensive Tree Services.

Request a Tree Assessment