Fire Regulations in Portage County, WI (2026)
3 rules for unincorporated Portage County, Wisconsin.
Verified from official government sources
Fire Pits & Backyard Fires
In Portage County parks, fires are confined by Code § 6.1.6(1) to designated fireplaces, fire rings or grills, with an exception only for portable stoves, heaters or grills used for cooking or heating in designated campgrounds and picnic areas. Unattended or unextinguished fires are also banned.
Portage County Park Campfire Rule
Significant RestrictionsPortage County Code § 6.1.6(1)
(1)Fires.(a)No person shall start, tend, or maintain any fire, or burn any refuse, except at designated fireplaces, fire rings, or grills within any county park, except that fires for cooking or heating may be made in portable stoves, heaters or grills at designated campgrounds and picnic areas.(b)No person shall leave any fire unattended, or throw away matches, cigarettes, cigars, or pipe ashe...
Fireworks
Portage County adopts Wisconsin's fireworks statute, Wis. Stats. § 167.10, by reference as its own regulation under Code § 2.7.1, leaving out the state's own penalties. A first county violation draws a forfeiture up to $35.00, rising to $35.00 plus costs and assessments for a second violation within a year.
Fireworks Regulation Adopted, Portage County
Some RestrictionsPortage County Code §§ 2.7.1, 2.7.2
The statutory provision of Wis. Stats. § 167.10, describing and defining regulations with respect to fireworks, exclusive of any provisions therein relating to penalties to be imposed, are hereby adopted and by reference made a part of this code as if fully set forth herein, as authorized in Wis. Stats. § 167.10(5). ... 2.7.2 - Penalties. Whoever violates the provisions of this section as a fir...
Outdoor Burning
Portage County's only local burning restriction targets its recycling program: § 4.8.8 makes it 'prohibited for any person to burn' materials designated as recyclable, including plastics, paper, tires, batteries, appliances and electronics, once they have been separated out under § 4.8.2.
Burning Ban on Recyclable Materials
Some RestrictionsPortage County Code § 4.8.8
It is prohibited for any person to burn the following recyclable materials: ... •Foam polystyrene packaging•Glass containers•Magazines or other paper printed on similar paper•Newspaper or newsprint•Office paper•Rigid plastic containers made of PETE, HDPE, PVC, LDPE, PP, PS, and other resins or multiple-resins•Steel containers•Bi-metal beverage containers•Tires•Lead acid batteries•Major applianc...
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