Permitting and Placement#

Placed Camp Questionnaire (PCQ) timeline#

• 2020 PCQ sample (archival) — Earlier template with Camp Lead responsibilities; useful for role definitions. (webassets.burningman.org)
• Sample Placed Camp Questionnaire (Support camps) — Same lens for art/MV/work support camps; who your primary contacts are during build. (webassets.burningman.org)
• Sample Placed Camp Questionnaire (Theme/Village) — Shows what Placement expects (staggered arrivals, strike plan), and how roles are listed. (webassets.burningman.org)
• Completing the Placed Camp Questionnaire (PCQ) — Help Center — Who should file, what to include, and key dates. (help.burningman.org)
• PCQ Deadline & Timeline (at‑a‑glance) — Theme camps close noon PT last Thursday in March; support camps close noon PT second‑to‑last Thursday in April. (help.burningman.org)

Work Access Pass (WAP) & Early Arrival planning#

• BXBus & SAPs — How early arrival is handled for Friday/Saturday Burner Express riders. (help.burningman.org)
• Gate & Early Entry basics — What happens if you show early, what you need pre‑Box Office, and day‑by‑day entry flow. (burningman.org)
• Help Center: “I want to come early—what should I do?” — Guidance to share with campmates asking to arrive before their SAP date. (help.burningman.org)
• SAP primer from a camp (8-bit Bunny) — How one camp recruits/uses SAP builders and sets expectations. (burn.8bitbunny.com)
• Setup Access Passes — Official guidance on Setup Access Pass (SAP) use and eligibility. (help.burningman.org)
• 2025 Survival Guide: City Plan & SAP reminder — City infra notes and clear “arriving before Sunday requires SAP” call‑out. (survival.burningman.org)
• Reddit: Build-week volunteering & early entry — How crews get SAPs for pre‑event build; Temple crew notes. (reddit.com)

Art registration and FAST coordination#

• Here They Come (2019) — Arrival choreography for large theme camps & art projects; HEaT + Placement coordination. (journal.burningman.org)
• General: How do I get placement for my Art Support Camp? — Art registration ≠ camp placement; file a PCQ as an Art Support Camp. (help.burningman.org)
• Art Registration FAQ (AIQ Preview) (PDF) — Reminder: artists must also submit a PCQ to receive reserved camping. (webassets.burningman.org)

Mutant Vehicle (DMV) applications and inspections#

• 2023 Mutant Vehicle Owner’s Handbook — Official DMV handbook outlining rules, safety, inspections, and operations for MVs (burningman.org)
• DMV / Mutant Vehicles: SAP handling — How SAPs are issued/used for MV crews and pre‑event do’s/don’ts. (burningman.org)
• DMV FAQ (Mutant Vehicle Owner’s Handbook) — Official DMV FAQ and owner guidance (PDF) (burningman.org)

Fuel storage approvals and secondary containment#

• Policies and legal orders

  • Bureau of Land Management 2025 Closure Order (Fuel Storage Rules) — ≤110 gal per camp; spacing and 110% secondary containment requirements for Black Rock City. (blm.gov)
  • Federal Register: Temporary Closure & Restrictions (Fuel Storage) 2023–2027 — Federal notice codifying BRC fuel storage limits and 110% secondary containment. (federalregister.gov)
  • Fire Safety Agreement: Fuel & Hazardous Materials Storage — FAST rules: 110% containment, distances, no shade over fuel depots. (burningman.org)
  • Approval Process for Fire Art — agreeing to Fuel/HazMat terms — Where artists formally accept storage/containment rules. (burningman.org)

• Survival Guides (fuel/containment excerpts)

  • Survival Guide 2013 — fuel notes — Vintage PDF: early references that informed today’s rules. (burningman.org)
  • Survival Guide 2015 — fuel notes — Legacy PDF with storage cautions. (burningman.org)
  • Survival Guide 2017 — fuel safety — Older PDF reference with storage/containment language. (survival.burningman.org)
  • Survival Guide 2022 — Fuel spill prevention — Fuel storage basics and FAST/BLM context. (survival.burningman.org)
  • Survival Guide 2024 — Fuel & Containment requirements — Secondary containment and spill protocols. (survival.burningman.org)
  • Survival Guide 2025 — Fuel & Containment requirements — 110% containment, ≤80% fill, and contacts. (survival.burningman.org)

• Practical guidance

  • FAST Fire Conclave Shin Tip 010 — secondary fuel containment for camps — Primer on secondary containment basics and inspection mindset. (burningman.org)
  • Fuel Container Safety Brochure (2024) — Mixing tubs/spill pallets, nozzle parking, 110% capacity examples. (burningman.org)
  • Fuel Container Brochure (2018) — Legacy containment examples and 110% rule. (burningman.org)
  • Fuel, Health, and Safety — Help Center — FAQ: ≤110 gallons, secondary containment, remediation readiness. (help.burningman.org)
  • Generators — Safe Use & Storage in BRC — Genset siting, ≥10 ft fuel separation, containment reminders. (burningman.org)
  • Mutant Vehicle Application Preview 2023 — Fuel pick-up/delivery notes — Where/how MVs refuel (Hell Station, deliveries) with compliance notes. (webassets.burningman.org)
  • On-Playa Resources — PETROL overview & minimize stored fuel — Encourages purchasing on-playa fuel to reduce depot size; containment still required. (survival.burningman.org)
  • PolyParadise LNT — fuel containment & BLM visits (what worked) — Camp notes after EG/BLM checks; how they improved containment. (polyparadise.com)
  • PolyParadise Survival Guide 2024 — camp fuel depot notes (PDF) — Internal guide with explicit “fuel containment area” callouts. (polyparadise.com)
  • PolyParadise What Worked 2022 — 30G containment bins — Dedicated 30‑gallon containment containers for their depot. (polyparadise.com)
  • PolyParadise What Worked 2023 — fuel containment follow-up — Continued improvements on fuel depots and inspections. (polyparadise.com)
  • PolyParadise What Worked 2024 — containment containers — Dispensing workflows and transport to BRC; what passed scrutiny. (polyparadise.com)
  • Leaky Things & Spills — LNT fuel containment basics — “Never on playa” + 110% secondary containment basin guidance. (survival.burningman.org)
  • Water & Fuel Delivery — vendor licensing & safety — Who can deliver, HAZMAT endorsements, and fuel-handling insurance. (burningman.org)
  • BRC PETROL – 2022 Fuel & Propane Request Form (Preview) — Drum options, ≤110 gal per camp, and containment expectations. (webassets.burningman.org)
  • Fire Guidelines in Camps — hazards & storage positions — In-camp fire safety that intersects with fuel depot siting. (burningman.org)
  • Flame Effects Guidelines — storage & cylinder distances — LPG storage separation, inspections, and in‑camp requirements. (burningman.org)
  • Burn the Man, Not Your Camp — Five Tips for Fuel Storage — Photo examples and quick math for 5‑gal cans. (journal.burningman.org)
  • DPW job: Hell Station Propane Attendant — fueling operations SOP — Ops posting that reveals daily fueling processes and controls. (apply.burningman.org)
  • Journal 2014: BRC Fuel Program launched — Why PETROL exists; context for reducing stored fuel in camps. (journal.burningman.org)
  • Journal: A Semi‑Hyperbolic Crash Course in MOOP — fuel is ~70% of MOOP — Strong emphasis on fuel spill prevention for BRC. (journal.burningman.org)
  • Journal: Rain prep — keep stored fuel in secondary containment — Wet playa guidance that includes fuel storage cautions. (journal.burningman.org)
  • Journal 2021: Playa travel — bring secondary containment and spill kit — Reminder that fuel spills are a major compliance issue. (journal.burningman.org)
  • Reddit: 2024 Fuel Storage changes — Discussion quoting updated 110% containment language and spacing. (reddit.com)
  • Reddit: Can you store fuel in secondary container on truck bed? — Consensus: truck beds aren’t containment; use rigid bins/tubs. (reddit.com)
  • Reddit: Gas Jerry can use — secondary containment reminder — Keep empties in containment; don’t store near ignition. (reddit.com)
  • Reddit: Generator newbie — plan for fuel storage & containment — Practical bin sizes and mixing tub tips from veterans. (reddit.com)
  • Reddit: Generators — secondary containment for fueling — Expect to provide containment even at refuel points; bring extras. (reddit.com)
  • Reddit: How much additional fuel to bring in RV (containment reminder) — Includes reminder about 110% containment for stored fuel. (reddit.com)
  • Reddit: Message for all burners from the Operations Manager (containment mention) — PSA reiterating secondary containment requirement. (reddit.com)
  • Reddit: State/local laws about transporting gas — BM containment cautions — Transport pointers + “never set cans on playa without containment.” (reddit.com)

Fire safety agreements and perimeter plans#

(none yet)

Resources#

• Placement Communication with Camps — How Placement communicates updates and decisions with camps (help.burningman.org)
• Camps and Placement — Overview of camps, placement process, and how to participate (burningman.org)
• Criteria for Camp Placement & Good Standing — What Placement evaluates and how to remain in good standing (burningman.org)
• Placement Process & Timeline — When PCQs open/close, SAP timing, and how Placement coordinates with Camp Leads. (burningman.org)
• Placement Process: dates in plain English — PCQ typically opens in February; most close noon PT on the last Thursday in March. (burningman.org)
• Placed Camp Categories — Theme vs support types and expectations tied to each. (burningman.org)
• BRC Registered Placement Sectors & Streets — Where interactivity/sound fit across avenues, portals, plazas, and Esplanade. (burningman.org)
• Camp Layouts (what to submit) — File format, naming rules, and expectations for the map to upload with the PCQ. (burningman.org)
• Placed Camp Handbook — Operating expectations for placed camps pre‑event and on playa. (burningman.org)
• Planning a Theme Camp (Help Center) — Start‑to‑finish planning hub; size caps and why placement matters. (help.burningman.org)
• Statement of Intent (SOI) & Stewards Sale Tickets — December SOI governs eligibility/allocations for spring Stewards tickets. (help.burningman.org)
• SOI basics (on Placement Process page) — Returning camps in Good Standing must file SOI to be considered for Stewards tickets. (burningman.org)
• Stewards Sale: eligibility & price tiers — Ticket counts per invite and current tier amounts. (help.burningman.org)
• Post‑Playa Report & Good Standing — Required debrief affecting next year’s standing and eligibility. (help.burningman.org)
• Deliveries & Outside Services (OSS) — Placed status required for most OSS; no deliveries before Placement check‑in. (help.burningman.org)
• Land Grabbing is Not Cool (policy reminders hub) — Open camping monitored pre‑gate; SAP misuse/land‑grabs may be escalated. (burningman.org)
• New Sound Policy for BRC 2023 (Journal) — Updated sound assessment influencing placement of louder camps. (journal.burningman.org)
• Cultural Direction Setting: Vision for Residential BRC — Placement’s curation role and transparency commitments. (journal.burningman.org)
• Cultural Direction Setting: What We Heard — Community input emphasizing interactivity as key. (journal.burningman.org)
• Introducing a More Dynamic & Transparent Placement (2022) — Mapping earlier, decommodification focus, higher‑touch reviews. (journal.burningman.org)
• Adapting to Growth & Limits in BRC (2024) — Why not all camps can be placed; balancing Stewards allocations. (journal.burningman.org)
• Making Placement & Camping Easier in 2025 — Office hours, newsletter, and easing measures for SOI/PCQ and placed vs open camping. (journal.burningman.org)
• Eliminating Convenience Camping — Policy shifts aligning placement criteria to the 10 Principles. (burningman.org)
• How (Not) to Build a Theme Camp (2025) — Pitfalls and where to get CAMP mentorship before you file. (journal.burningman.org)
• Camp Support Team — Mentorship (CAMP), networking, and year‑round guidance for camp leads. (burningman.org)
• Campfire Talks (index) — Monthly organizer talks; Placement/HUBS/criteria Q&A. (burningman.org)
• Campfire Talks S5E4 (2025) — Sustainability badges + live Q&A with Placement; good PCQ prep. (burningman.org)
• Camp Symposium 2025 (Event) — Annual deep‑dive day for camp leads (placement trends, tickets, emergency planning). (burningman.org)
• Camp Symposium 2024 (Recap) — “Placement office hours” and leadership/acculturation tracks. (burningman.org)
• Camp Symposium 2023: “Ask a Placer” — Direct Q&A with Placers on the PCQ and mapping decisions. (burningman.org)
• Placement Office Hours (RSVP) — Monthly Zoom office hours with Placement/Art/DMV; bring PCQ questions. (burningman.org)
• Camp Resource Guide — Consolidated “how to camp” playbook maintained by the Camp Support Team. (burningman.org)
• BRC Plan 2025 (site plan overview) — Map notes on where reserved-placement camps generally live. (burningman.org)
• BRC Plan 2024 (archive) — Blue‑flagged reserved plots; walk‑in/open camping guidance. (burningman.org)
• City Plan (Survival Guide) — Plazas & services — Where plazas sit and what lives around them (informs high‑traffic placement asks). (survival.burningman.org)
• Plaza Art (what belongs in a plaza) — Expectations if you’re vying for plaza frontage. (burningman.org)
• Center Camp Plaza — The Heart — Orientation to one of the most curated, interactive neighborhoods. (burningman.org)
• AfterBurn 2024 (Placement HQ notes) — Placement HQ ops and improvements noted post‑event. (journal.burningman.org)
• AfterBurn 2005 — Placement — Historical rationale for pushing vibrancy deeper into the city. (burningman.org)
• AfterBurn 2002 — Placement — Stats on Esplanade, plazas, LSSA, and non‑Esplanade placement that year. (burningman.org)
• Cultural Direction Setting: From Vision to Action — Working groups (incl. Placement Team identity) and outcomes. (journal.burningman.org)
• Here’s What Burning Man Is Doing to End Turnkey Culture — Placement/DGS consequences tied to commodified camps. (journal.burningman.org)
• Equality, Inequity, Iniquity: Concierge Culture — Why DGS for placed camps is culturally accepted; contrasts with concierge operations. (journal.burningman.org)
• Open‑camping vs. reserved placement (Survival Guide) — Blue flags = reserved space; where to go for open camping and help from Placement HQ. (survival.burningman.org)
• “Adapting to Growth” (2024) — Why not every camp can be placed, and what that means for open camping. (journal.burningman.org)
• BRC 2025 Event Page — Current‑year timelines and links out to survival/placement resources. (burningman.org)
• Camps & Placement FAQ (section hub) — Quick links to PCQ, SOI, SAPs, comms, PPR and more. (help.burningman.org)
• Camp Listings Archive (directory) — Browse prior entries for interactivity/language examples. (directory.burningman.org)
• Camps & Placement: sound & fire lane notes — Quick refs on sound limits and when fire/service lanes are required. (burningman.org)
• Camp Armageddon — “We have been placed!” — Example of public placement confirmation; useful for scouting neighborhoods. (facebook.com)
• Camp Contact — BRC 2025 notice — Example center‑camp neighborhood messaging once address drops. (campcontact.org)
• Camp Contact — placement updates (X) — Public social confirmations of placement/address; scout neighbors/volunteers. (x.com)
• Pretty Pickle Camp — “We’ve Been Placed” (2023) — Small‑camp announcement with approximate address (7:30 & Frogbat); good comms model. (prettypicklecamp.p1r8.net)
• Spiritual Playa — “PCQ Submitted!!!” (2014) — First‑person PCQ timeline & build‑team planning based on early arrival. (spiritualplaya.org)
• SUMANAH Camp — “Placed in our dream spot” — Member expectations + address reveal (8:00 & B); small‑camp placement comms. (sumanah.camp)
• Elephant Camp — “Our Placement” — States Esplanade frontage and portal depth; shows how camps message confirmed placement to members. (iloveelephantscamp.org)
• Elephant Camp — 2025 tips page — Notes recurring Esplanade placement; good example of expectations-setting once placed. (iloveelephantscamp.org)
• Mycodelic Forest — “PCQ opens today / fast-tracked” (2025) — Indie example of PCQ timeline comms and a fast-track mention. (mycodelicforest.org)
• Orphan Endorphin — camp info — Notes historic placements & camp identity; a template for describing your fit. (orphanendorphin.com)
• Pink Fuzzy Monkey — address change log — Documents being moved after initial placement; example of handling updates. (pinkfuzzymonkey.org)
• Pink Fuzzy Monkey — Camp Location (2025) — Initial placement and later move; illustrates dynamic addressing. (pinkfuzzymonkey.org)
• Placement Office hours + RSVP (Events hub) — Monthly office hours linked from the Camps portal. (burningman.org)
• Placement of Playa Art (historical notes) — How art is mapped (deep playa vs city) and spaced for safety/sound. (burningman.org)
• Reddit — 2016 Camp Placement high‑res map thread — Historic community‑compiled map; useful precedent for research. (reddit.com)
• Reddit — 2025 Placement Thread (crowdsourced addresses) — Camps posting official placement; adjacency research. (reddit.com)
• Reddit — “Placed in Center Camp Neighborhood?” — New Center Camp neighborhood coordination tips. (reddit.com)
• Reddit — “We got moved near portos—how bad is it?” — Living with service infrastructure based on exact placement. (reddit.com)
• Reddit: Annual pre‑burn rant (placement/open‑camping vibes) — Community take on open camping vs placed dynamics. (reddit.com)
• Transition: Villages → Theme Camps & HUBS (2024/25) — How village conversions affect SOI/PCQ, tickets, and leadership. (help.burningman.org)
• Treble Makers — “We’ve been placed @ 3 & ESP” (IG) — Esplanade placement callouts and fundraising tie‑ins. (instagram.com)
• Roller Disco 2002 — “We’ve been placed in Center Camp” — Vintage camp plan and map; sample of briefing crews on placement. (timefold.com)
• Playa Penthouse — page — Social posts documenting being a placed camp; oblique address confirmations. (facebook.com)
• Playasophy — “Will be placed at 4:00 & Airstrip” — Clear sample of address announcement & camp history rollups. (playasophy.org)
• Playasophy — Camp years page — Year-by-year placement anecdotes and neighborhood context. (playasophy.org)
• Small Project, Huge Impact (Journal, 2025) — On‑ramps for leveling up interactivity before filing. (journal.burningman.org)
• Tomorrow Today Together (2025) — Recruiting/participation push that can impact camp composition. (journal.burningman.org)
• Two Fronts of Burning Man’s Inflection Point (2024) — Org context (budget/tickets) cascading into placement planning. (journal.burningman.org)
• Camp Listings 2025 (in‑year) — Public listings of camps that filed PCQ (placement not guaranteed). (burningman.org)
• Camp Listings 2024 — Browse last year’s filed camps for scope/interactivity examples. (burningman.org)
• Camp Listings 2022 — Archive of camps that filed PCQ in 2022. (burningman.org)
• Theme Camp Archive 2019 — Pre‑2020 exemplars to research legacy interactivity. (burningman.org)
• DISTRIKT — 2024 announcement — Explains taking a year off while “offered placement,” with notes on Good Standing & return planning. (distrikt.org)
• Frequently Asked Questions (site section) — Cross-links to placement how-tos and process pages. (burningman.org)
• HUBS (Humans Uniting for Better Sustainability) — Why Placement prioritizes resource-sharing hubs and where to find partners. (survival.burningman.org)
• Hushville Discussion — “WE HAVE BEEN PLACED” — Internal placement update thread pattern for open/quiet camps. (hushville.org)
• Indie: “Placing camps at Burning Man” (4brad) — Outside perspective on the placement process and its opacity (historical context). (ideas.4brad.com)
• Indie: Art Predator — “Where to camp & Placer check-in” (2014) — Practical notes on meeting your placer and avoiding blue-flag encroachment. (artpredator.com)
• Kaleidoscope — “We’ve been placed at Center Camp!” — A small camp’s placement announcement plus participation expectations. (sites.google.com)