No, open burning in Norway is largely prohibited under the Pollution Control Act and local municipal bylaws, with exceptions for agricultural residue burning in specific regions and under strict permits from the Norwegian Environment Agency.
Key Regulations for Open Burning in Norway
- Permit Requirement: Open burning requires prior authorization from the Norwegian Environment Agency or local municipalities, particularly for agricultural waste, forestry residues, or land clearing. Unpermitted burning constitutes a violation under the Pollution Control Act (Forurensningsloven).
- Seasonal Restrictions: Burning is typically banned during high-risk wildfire periods (May–September) in most counties, including Innlandet and Trøndelag, enforced by the Norwegian Civil Defence (Direktoratet for samfunnssikkerhet og beredskap).
- Prohibited Materials: Burning household waste, plastics, treated wood, or hazardous materials is illegal under the Waste Regulations (Avfallsforskriften), with penalties up to NOK 10 million for violations.
Local fire departments and the Norwegian Climate and Pollution Agency (Klif) conduct compliance checks, especially in rural areas where agricultural burning is common. Recent 2026 amendments to the Air Quality Regulations (Luftkvalitetsforskriften) tighten particulate matter (PM2.5/PM10) limits, further restricting open burning in urban-adjacent zones. Violators face fines or criminal charges under the Penal Code § 152.