6 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 4 cities in Dane County, Wisconsin.
Verified from official government sources
Recreational fire pits in unincorporated Dane County are generally permitted subject to Wisconsin DNR burning guidelines and common-sense safety practices. No specific county fire pit ordinance exists.
Consumer fireworks are banned throughout Wisconsin under Wis. Stat. §167.10, including in unincorporated Dane County. Only sparklers, caps, and smoke devices are permitted.
Dane County Code Ch. 35 (Weeds) and municipal property maintenance codes require vacant lot and residential brush/weed control. WI DNR manages wildfire risk primarily in central/northern Wisconsin; Dane County focus is urban weed abatement and shoreland buffer rules.
Open burning in unincorporated Dane County is regulated by Wisconsin DNR (Wis. Stat. §26.12) and the Dane County Sheriff. Burning permits are required for most open fires during dry conditions.
Dane County is not designated as a high wildfire hazard zone; Wisconsin regulates wildfire primarily through DNR burning permits under Wis. Stat. §26.12 and §26.14, with no defensible-space ordinance in Madison or unincorporated Dane County.
Smoke detector requirements in unincorporated Dane County are set by Wisconsin state law, not the county. Wis. Stat. §101.645 requires functional smoke detectors in the basement and on every floor level (except attic/storage) of one- and two-family dwellings. New construction under Wis. Admin. Code SPS 321.09 must use hardwired, interconnected detectors inside each sleeping room and within 21 feet of sleeping-room doors. Violations carry up to $50/day forfeiture.
4 cities in Dane County have their own fire regulations rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
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Dane County Ordinance Hub →