Fire Regulations in Rock County, WI (2026)
5 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 2 cities in Rock County, Wisconsin.
Verified from official government sources
Fire Pits & Backyard Fires
Rock County has no county-wide fire-pit code; rules are set by your town, city or village. In the unincorporated towns, small recreational fires must be confined in a ring, barrel or pit, constantly attended, and follow town burn-permit rules and Wisconsin DNR burn restrictions.
Backyard Fire Pit and Recreational Fire Rules
Some RestrictionsTown of Fulton, Rock County WI, Ch. 231 (Open Burning)
Outdoor campfires and small bonfires for cooking, ceremonies or recreation are allowed, provided that the fire is confined by a control device or structure such as a barrel, fire ring, or fire pit... Open burning shall be constantly attended and supervised by a competent person of at least 18 years of age until the fire is extinguished and is cold.
Fireworks
Rock County adopts Wisconsin's fireworks statute, Wis. Stat. § 167.10, in full by ordinance and raises the maximum penalty to a $1,000 forfeiture. Possessing or using anything that explodes, emits sparks, or combusts without a common use, beyond exempt novelties like small sparklers, requires a user's permit issued by the mayor, village president, or town chairperson where the fireworks will be used.
Fireworks Rules in Rock County, Wisconsin
Significant RestrictionsWis. Stat. § 167.10(1), (3)(a), (5)(a)-(b), adopted by Rock County Code § 3.211
167.10(1) Definition. In this section, "fireworks" means anything manufactured, processed or packaged for exploding, emitting sparks or combustion which does not have another common use, but does not include ... a sparkler on a wire or wood stick not exceeding 36 inches in length ... 167.10(3)(a) No person may possess or use fireworks without a user's permit from the mayor of the city, presiden...
Brush Clearance
Wisconsin has no defensible-space wildfire law, but Wis. Stat. 66.0407 requires every landowner to destroy noxious weeds (Canada thistle, leafy spurge, field bindweed and locally designated weeds) on their land. Removal by open burning must still follow DNR NR 429 rules.
Brush Clearance and Noxious Weeds in Rock County
Some RestrictionsWis. Stat. 66.0407(3)
A person owning, occupying or controlling land shall destroy all noxious weeds on the land. The person having immediate charge of any public lands shall destroy all noxious weeds on the lands.
Outdoor Burning
Wisconsin DNR generally prohibits open burning except for narrow exceptions in NR 429.04, and you must burn under safe weather, hold any required DNR/town burn permit, and never burn garbage, plastics, rubber or oily material. Rock County towns add their own permit rules.
Open Burning Rules in Rock County, Wisconsin
Some RestrictionsWis. Admin. Code NR 429.04
Open burning is prohibited with the following exceptions... All open burning shall be conducted in a safe pollution free manner under favorable weather conditions... No person may cause, allow or permit the open burning of wet combustible rubbish, garbage, oily substances, asphalt, plastic or rubber products.
Smoke Detectors
Statewide, Wis. Stat. 101.145 requires working smoke detectors in the basement, at each stairway head on every floor, and in or near each sleeping area of every home and rental unit. Owners install them; occupants maintain them and must report failures in writing.
Smoke Detector Requirements in Rock County, Wisconsin
Some RestrictionsWis. Stat. 101.145(4)
[The owner shall] install and maintain a functional smoke detector in the basement and at the head of any stairway on each floor level of the building and shall install a functional smoke detector either in each sleeping area of each unit or elsewhere in the unit within 6 feet of each sleeping area and not in a kitchen.
Fire Regulations by City in Rock County
2 cities in Rock County have their own fire regulations rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
All Rock County ordinances
See every category we cover for Rock County: parking, noise, fences, fires, animals, pools, and more.
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