Burning permits

When used appropriately, burning permits are an important tool in wildfire prevention. They allow the public to burn legal materials in the outdoors and are proven to be effective in protecting lives, property, and natural resources from the damages of unwanted wildfires.

The simple steps to being a responsible debris burner

1. Obtain the annual burning permit online or by calling 1-888-WIS-BURN (947-2876) to have a permit mailed or instantly emailed. Permits are also available at a local Ranger Station or from an Emergency Fire Warden.
2. On the day of the burn, check on the internet or over the phone after 11:00 a.m. for the daily fire restrictions in the county where you wish to burn:
   
   

   dnr.wi.gov/wisburn

   OR

   1-888-WIS-BURN (947-2876)

   (enter the County Code)

3. Follow the rules for the day. Have tools and water available, and make certain your fire is completely out before leaving.

   Burning Permits, It’s Your Responsibility [PDF] is a printable summary of statewide forest fire regulations and other basic fire program information.

Information you will receive

Since weather conditions can change rapidly throughout Wisconsin, fire managers set fire restrictions based on the current and predicted fire danger for the day. After you have selected the county where you wish to burn, the toll-free number or internet will provide you with the most up-to-date fire restriction information. These restrictions will tell you if burning permits are required, time and size restrictions, or if burning has been suspended due to increased forest fire danger. Remember, you must check daily after 11 a.m. on the day you wish to burn regardless of whether or not you are planning to burn on the ground or in a barrel.

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What types of burning requires a permit

Intended primarily for vegetative debris removal, DNR annual burning permits are issued to landowners for burning on the ground and in barrels. These no-cost permits are good for the calendar year and are non-transferable.

Special burning permits and permits for commercial contractors may be issued for larger quantities, all day burning, and broadcast burns exceeding the local maximum size limit. Contact your local DNR Ranger Station—they’ll let you know if you qualify.

Campfires, for warming or cooking purposes, do not require a burning permit and are allowed anytime except during Emergency Burning Restrictions. Burning in a fire ring with the intent to remove debris is not a campfire and therefore a permit is required.

Who makes the rules where I plan to burn

It is your responsibility to know where you are burning and what restrictions apply. DNR annual burning permits are only valid within DNR Protection Areas and outside incorporated cities and villages. Remember, you must also comply with local ordinances that may be more restrictive than state law. Contact your local fire department, town chairperson, or local municipal official if you have any questions.

To see detailed maps of DNR Protection Areas, select the county where the customer wishes to burn:

Select County Adams Ashland Barron Bayfield Brown Buffalo Burnett Calumet Chippewa Clark Columbia Crawford Dane Dodge Door Douglas Dunn Eau Claire Florence Fond du Lac Forest Grant Green Green Lake Iowa Iron Jackson Jefferson Juneau Kenosha Kewaunee LaCrosse Lafayette Langlade Lincoln Manitowoc Marathon Marinette Marquette Menominee Milwaukee Monroe Oconto Oneida Outagamie Ozaukee Pepin Pierce Polk Portage Price Racine Richland Rock Rusk St. Croix Sauk Sawyer Shawano Sheboygan Taylor Trempealeau Vernon Vilas Walworth Washburn Washington Waukesha Waupaca Waushara Winnebago Wood

Liability for wildfires

It's your responsibility to have a permit available and ready to show to law enforcement personnel or firefighters if requested at any time while burning. Failure to obtain a permit or comply with the daily restrictions could result in a citation.

If your fire escapes and starts a wildfire, you may be held liable for all suppression costs. Any person, whose property is injured or destroyed by your fire, may also recover, in a civil action, the value of timber or damages suffered.

Reduce-Reuse-Recycle

Debris burning should always be your last alternative. Consider alternatives like composting or leaving your vegetative debris in the woods for wildlife to enjoy. If you still choose to burn, keep in mind what's allowable to burn with your DNR annual permit:

Allowed	Prohibited
Brush Leaves Needles Grass Clean wood Unrecyclable paper* Unrecyclable cardboard*	Garbage Plastics Shingles Foam Furniture Wire Metal Aluminum Vinyl products Rubber products Oil-based products

*Remember, recycling of clean paper and cardboard is required

The DNR strongly discourages the use of burn barrels. Burn barrels emit dioxin, acid vapors, carcinogenic tars, and "heavy metals" such as lead, cadmium and chromium, as well as unhealthy amounts of carbon monoxide. Note: small businesses, commercial enterprises, and industries may not use burn barrels or engage in other kinds of open burning for any waste generated by the businesses.

Materials that may not be burned in a burn barrel or debris pile also may not be burned in a furnace, wood stove or similar home heating system.

County codes

County	Code	Spell
Adams	01	2326
Ashland	02	2745
Barron	03	2277
Bayfield	04	2293
Brown*	05	2769
Buffalo*	06	2833
Burnett	07	2876
Calumet*	08	2258
Chippewa	09	2447
Clark	10	2527
Columbia	11	2658
Crawford	12	2729
Dane	13	3263
Dodge*	14	3634
Door*	15	3667
Douglas	16	3684
Dunn*	17	3866
Eau Claire	18	3282
Florence	19	3567
Fond du Lac*	20	3663
Forest	21	3673
Grant	22	4726
Green*	23	4733
Green Lake	24	4733
Iowa	25	4692
Iron	26	4766
Jackson	27	5225
Jefferson*	28	5333
Juneau	29	5863
Kenosha*	30	5366
Kewaunee*	31	5392
LaCrosse*	32	5227
Lafayette*	33	5232
Langlade	34	5264
Lincoln	35	5462
Manitowoc*	36	6264
Marathon	37	6272
Marinette	38	6274
Marquette	39	6277
Menominee	40	6366
Milwaukee*	41	6492
Monroe	42	6667
Oconto	43	6266
Oneida	44	6634
Outagamie*	45	6882
Ozaukee*	46	6928
Pepin*	47	7374
Pierce*	48	7437
Polk	49	7655
Portage	50	7678
Price	51	7742
Racine*	52	7224
Richland	53	7424
Rock*	54	7625
Rusk	55	7875
St. Croix*	56	7246
Sauk	57	7285
Sawyer	58	7299
Shawano	59	7429
Sheboygan*	60	7432
Taylor	61	8295
Trempealeau*	62	8736
Vernon*	63	8376
Vilas	64	8452
Walworth*	65	9259
Washburn	66	9274
Washington*	67	9274
Waukesha*	68	9285
Waupaca	69	9287
Waushara	70	9287
Winnebago*	71	9466
Wood	72	9663