Hillsboro's air quality does not always meet federal health standards. This is caused by geography, weather conditions, and air inversions, which cause air to become stagnant and trap pollution near the ground.

The primary source of the pollution, known as Particulate Matter 2.5, or PM2.5, is caused by residential wood burning in wood stoves and fireplaces. Visit the Environmental Protection Agency website to learn more about Particulate Matter Pollution.

In 2015, Hillsboro passed an ordinance to limit wood and debris burning within City limits, and regulate the levels of pollution particulates in compliance with the Federal Clean Air Act. Under the ordinance:

• From November 1 to March 1, residents are either asked to avoid or are prohibited from burning wood inside their homes on days when air quality is at unhealthy levels.
• Burning yard debris or trash outdoors is prohibited year-round.

Washington County passed a similar ordinance in 2015 that covers unincorporated areas of Washington County that are within the Metro Service District boundary. Look up your address on Washington County's map tool to see if you are within the burn ban boundary.

From November 1 to March 1 of each year, Washington County will issue a daily air quality advisory and color code. 

• Green: Air quality is healthy. No restrictions.
• Yellow: Air quality is unhealthy for sensitive groups. Residents are asked to avoid wood stove and fireplace burning.
• Red: Air quality is unhealthy. Residents are prohibited from burning wood unless they fall under the exemptions below. 

Exemptions

If the following exemptions apply to your residence, you will still be allowed to burn wood indoors on yellow and red air quality days.

• Your household relies on wood burning as your only source of heat.
• Your household qualifies as low-income.
• You are experiencing an interruption in electricity or natural gas utilities.
• Your household's primary heating system is temporarily not working (no more than 120 days).

The ordinance does not restrict the use of pellet stoves nor restrict burning between March 2 and October 31.

Check Washington County's Website or Social Media 

From November 1 through March 1, visit Washington County's website to check the air quality status or call the Air Quality Status line at 503-846-8744. 

Radio, TV, and news outlets are informed of and often announce "Red" air quality days as well.

Sign Up for Air Quality Alerts

Sign up for Washington County Public Alerts to get updates about hazardous situations, including poor air quality. 

Wood Stove Exchange Program

Older wood stoves and wood stove inserts, including those that are are not EPA-certified, are inefficient, dirty, and pollute the air in your home and neighborhood. If you use one of these old stoves, Washington County can help you replace it with a new heating system for little or no cost.

Washington County offers rebates of $1,500 to $3,500 when you replace your old wood stove or insert with one of the following heat sources below. Some families will qualify for a free replacement based on household income.

• Electric ductless heat pump
• Gas stove or insert
• Pellet stove or insert
• Gas furnace

Families who are eligible for a free replacement may also choose to replace an older woodstove with an EPA-certified wood stove or wood stove insert.

Visit Washington County's website to learn more and complete an application.

Effective 12:00 p.m. on Oct. 15, 2024, the High-Fire Danger Burn Ban has been officially lifted across Washington County. This includes areas served by Banks Fire District #13, Cornelius Fire Department, Forest Grove Fire Department, Gaston Rural Fire District, Hillsboro Fire & Rescue, and Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue (TVF&R).

Initially implemented due to elevated fire risk, the ban was lifted after recent rainfall and the Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) ended the fire season.

Read more on the news article here.

State of Oregon regulations prohibit the open burning of any material that creates dense smoke or noxious odors. This includes the following materials:

• Plastics: foam cups, meat trays, egg containers
• Asbestos
• Tires or other rubber products
• Garbage and food waste
• Wire insulation
• Waste oil and other petroleum products
• Automobile parts including frames
• Dead animals

Smoke from burning household waste is unhealthy to breathe, particularly for small children, pregnant women, older adults and people with asthma or other respiratory ailments:

• Burn barrels are inefficient and pollute because they create low temperature fires, receive little oxygen and produce a lot of smoke. Many household products, such as bleached paper products and some plastics contain chlorine.
  
  
• Many household products, such as slick colored papers and synthetic inks, release heavy metals when burned.
  
  
• Many household products contain chemicals such as hydrochloric acid which are known to irritate the skin and eyes.
  
  
• Burn barrels produce many toxic air pollutants. Virtually all of the pollutants are released into the air close to ground level where they are easily inhaled.
  
  
• Burning household waste harms the environment.
  
  
• Pollutants released when household waste is burned eventually end up back on the ground and in the water and can build up to dangerously high levels in plants, animals, and people.

Reduce

Avoid purchasing disposable items. Buy products in bulk or economy sizes instead of in individually wrapped or in single serving sizes. Buy products that can be recharged, reused, or refilled.

Reuse

Donate unwanted clothing, furniture, and toys to friends, relatives or charities. Give unwanted magazines and books to hospitals or nursing homes. Mend and repair rather than discard or replace.

Recycle

Separate the recyclable items, such as newspapers, glass and plastic containers and tin cans, from your residential waste and prepare them for collection or drop-off at a local recycling station.

Disposal

Have household waste picked up by a licensed waste removal company or take it to a licensed disposal facility rather than burning it.

Contact Your Waste Hauler*

• Contact your waste hauler to request an additional yard debris cart.
• Place extra yard debris in paper lawn and yard debris Refuse bags (available at home improvement stores) and leave them next to your roll cart on pickup days.

*Additional charges may apply. Be sure to inquire with your waste hauler.

Self-Haul to Local Yard Debris Recyclers

Best Buy In Town Landscape Supply
2200 NW Cornelius Pass Road, Hillsboro
503-645-6665

S & H Landscape Supplies & Recycling
1748 NE 25th Avenue, Hillsboro
503-846-0881

Hillsboro Landfill and Tualatin Valley Waste Recovery
3205 SE Minter Bridge Road, Hillsboro
503-640-9427

Recology — North Plains
9570 NW 307th Avenue, North Plains
503-647-9489

Resources

• Visit Metro's website for information and resources about yard debris composting.
• Get information on Hillsboro's fall leaf pickup and drop-off program.

• A recreational fire not contained in a portable outdoor fireplace should not be within 25 feet of a structure or combustible material. Conditions which could cause a fire to spread within 25 feet of a structure should be eliminated prior to ignition.
• A fire contained within a portable outdoor fireplace should not be within 15 feet of a structure or combustible material.
• Recreational fires and portable outdoor fireplaces should be constantly attended until the fire is completely extinguished.
• Any time a fire is burning, you should have a fire extinguisher, garden hose, or bucket of water or dirt immediately available to extinguish the fire if it grows out of control.
• Acceptable fuels include cut fire wood, charcoal, manufactured fire logs, wood pellets, natural gas or propane. Trash and other types of waste are not acceptable fuels.

If you would like to build a new permanent outdoor fireplace, please contact our Building Division at 503-681-6144 to discuss your plans and determine what permits are necessary.

Before beginning construction, contact our Planning Division at 503-681-6153 for information on required setbacks and compliance with the Community Development Code.