Residents of unincorporated Linn County who live on property zoned Urban Service Residential (USR) and are within one-half mile of Cedar Rapids, Marion, or Hiawatha city limits who wish to burn landscape waste or leaves can apply for a burn permit variance request from the Linn County Board of Supervisors through November 26, 2019.
The County’s air quality ordinance prohibits open burning of landscape waste, including grass, leaves, weeds, trees, tree limbs, natural growth for land clearing, agricultural wastes, etc. on USR parcels within a half mile of the Cedar Rapids, Marion, and Hiawatha city limits. However, based on feedback from county residents, the Board of Supervisors has allowed variance requests during the fall for the past three years.
To request a variance:
- Call Linn County Public Health (LCPH) at 319-892-6000.
- State that you would like to request a variance to burn in rural Linn County but are currently denied because you are on a USR parcel within a half mile of the Cedar Rapids, Marion, or Hiawatha city limits.
- LCPH will process the application request and accept payment for the open burning permit ($25). LCHP will forward the request to the Linn County Board of Supervisors.
- The Board of Supervisors will review and either approve or deny variance requests at the Board of Supervisor meetings on Monday and Wednesday mornings at 10 a.m. each week through November. The applicant does not need to be present.
- LCPH will contact the applicant with the Board of Supervisors’ decision to either approve or deny the variance request. If the variance request is approved, then LCPH will issue the permit. If the request is denied and payment was made, LCPH will issue a refund.
- All permits issued will be valid through November 30, 2019, regardless of the application date.
The Board of Supervisors will consider variance requests during their regularly scheduled Board of Supervisors meetings on Monday and Wednesday mornings at 10 a.m. at the Linn County Public Service Center, 935 2nd St. SW in Cedar Rapids. Applicants are not required to attend the meetings; however, they are welcome to attend.
Any permits issued will include all standard requirements and are only for Chapter 10.10.B.1. The Board of Supervisors will not hear variance requests after November 30, 2019.
Residents with questions should call Linn County Public Health at 319-892-6000 or email [email protected].