Burning Man co-founder Larry Harvey wrote the 10 Principles in 2004 as guidelines for the regional network. They were crafted not as a dictate of how people should be and act, but as a reflection of the community’s ethos and culture as it had organically developed since the event’s inception.

Radical Inclusion

Anyone may be a part of Burning Man. We welcome and respect the stranger. No prerequisites exist for participation in our community.

Gifting

Burning Man is devoted to acts of gift giving. The value of a gift is unconditional. Gifting does not contemplate a return or an exchange for something of equal value.

Decommodification

In order to preserve the spirit of gifting, our community seeks to create social environments that are unmediated by commercial sponsorships, transactions, or advertising. We stand ready to protect our culture from such exploitation. We resist the substitution of consumption for participatory experience.

Radical Self-reliance

Burning Man encourages the individual to discover, exercise and rely on their inner resources.

Radical Self-expression

Radical self-expression arises from the unique gifts of the individual. No one other than the individual or a collaborating group can determine its content. It is offered as a gift to others. In this spirit, the giver should respect the rights and liberties of the recipient.

Communal Effort

Our community values creative cooperation and collaboration. We strive to produce, promote and protect social networks, public spaces, works of art, and methods of communication that support such interaction.

Civic Responsibility

We value civil society. Community members who organize events should assume responsibility for public welfare and endeavor to communicate civic responsibilities to participants. They must also assume responsibility for conducting events in accordance with local, state and federal laws.

Leaving No Trace

Our community respects the environment. We are committed to leaving no physical trace of our activities wherever we gather. We clean up after ourselves and endeavor, whenever possible, to leave such places in a better state than when we found them.

Participation

Our community is committed to a radically participatory ethic. We believe that transformative change, whether in the individual or in society, can occur only through the medium of deeply personal participation. We achieve being through doing. Everyone is invited to work. Everyone is invited to play. We make the world real through actions that open the heart.

Immediacy

Immediate experience is, in many ways, the most important touchstone of value in our culture. We seek to overcome barriers that stand between us and a recognition of our inner selves, the reality of those around us, participation in society, and contact with a natural world exceeding human powers. No idea can substitute for this experience.

    And… unSCruz has included a new Principle –

The 11th Principle: Consent

We prioritize creating an environment for our community that allows each participant to feel safe to express themselves. Consent relies on the understanding and acknowledgment of personal boundaries. To ensure the well-being of everyone involved, we respect the boundaries of others by asking for consent before taking actions that impact other people, including: 

• Photography and Filming:
  • Always ask for explicit consent before taking photos or filming someone.
  • Respect individuals’ right to decline being photographed or filmed.
  • Avoid capturing sensitive moments without the clear consent of those involved.
• Physical Contact:
  • Always ask for permission before touching someone else, regardless of the context.
  • Be mindful of personal space and boundaries, and respect the comfort levels of others.
  • Any form of physical contact beyond a handshake or other commonly accepted gestures requires explicit consent.
• Inappropriate Touching:
  • Inappropriate touching, including slapping someone’s butt, is strictly prohibited.
  • Such actions are disrespectful and can make others feel uncomfortable or violated.

Be considerate of a person’s age, sobriety, and state of mind, as it may impact their ability to consent.