Michael Weston, who is a spy, receives a "burn notice," which means he was fired by the government. Unsure why this happened, Michael returns to his roots in Miami, and begins taking on local cases for people the police cannot help. He starts by helping a man clear his name after valuable pieces of art and jewelry are stolen.
Michael, with help from Fiona and Sam, help save Madeline's friend from a con artist. In return, Michael receives information about some visitors that came to her home, which brings him one step closer to the origin of his burn notice.
An assassin with a grudge against Michael arrives in Miami. Michael dodges his assassination attempts while trying to rescue an old friend's young daughter from a prostitution ring.
Michael's landlord asks him to help a single mom from a drug trafficker who wants to prevent her from testifying at his assault trial. Meanwhile, Michael makes contact with an old spy friend.
Michael recruits a spy within a lethal and tight-knit family of gun runners in order to save the lives of a young man and his pregnant wife. Meanwhile, the FBI pressures Sam to get information on Michael.
Michael retrieves a boat from Jamaican gangsters and discovers $10 million hidden onboard. Meanwhile, a CSS agent urges Michael to stop his investigation into who burned him.
Michael infiltrates a crime gang, posing as a thief, who are terrorizing a merchant. Meanwhile, Michael blackmails an agent to reveal information about his burn notice.
Michael and Fiona investigate an alleged jewel thief who Fiona believes is innocent. They hunt down find the real culprit. Meanwhile, Michael plots against the man who had him burned.
A house-sitters finacee is kidnapped and held for a multi-million dollar ransom that he couldn't possibly pay. He hires Michael to help him save the woman he loves. Meanwhile, Michael is confused by a man who claims that he can help Michael get out of his Burn Notice troubles.
Michael becomes emotionally vested in a case involving a woman trying to track down her son, whom she accuses her estranged husband of kidnapping. Elsewhere, Michael learns the man behind the burn notice intends to visit him in Miami.
With the help of his brother Nate, Michael escapes the government agents who just assassinated Philip Cowan and rescues Fiona from the heroin smugglers who are still pursuing her.
Michael makes a daring rescue attempt that puts all his skills to the test, fighting and killing Harrick, then escaping with Sam. He then makes good on his deal, following directions planted in Sam's car and giving himself up to the government agency that is hunting him…he disappears into a truck on a remote bridge and is taken with the promise that he will finally get some answers.