There is no county backyard-fire rule. In Ann Arbor a small recreational backyard fire is permit-free if kept about 3 feet across, roughly 25 feet from structures, attended, and burning only clean wood. Larger fires need a bonfire permit.
A backyard fire in Washtenaw County is governed by your city or township, not the county. Ann Arbor allows an attended recreational fire (about 3 feet in diameter) without a permit provided it stays clear of buildings and combustibles by roughly 25 feet and a hose or extinguisher is on hand. Anything larger than 3-by-3 feet is a bonfire requiring a fire-department permit, capped near 5-by-5 feet and 50 feet from combustibles. Only clean, dry, seasoned wood is allowed — no leaves, yard waste, trash, or accelerants. Neighboring townships each set their own permit rules, so check locally before lighting a backyard fire.
Fires that are unattended, oversized, or emit heavy smoke can be ordered extinguished and cited as municipal civil infractions, with fire-response costs billable to the owner.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
Ann Arbor, MI
Ann Arbor prohibits storing abandoned, inoperable, or unregistered vehicles on public streets or visible on private property. Vehicles may be tagged and towe...
Ann Arbor, MI
Ann Arbor regulates electric vehicle charging infrastructure for residential and commercial properties. Building codes may require EV-ready parking in new co...
Ann Arbor, MI
Ann Arbor regulates overnight parking on public streets. Many areas restrict parking between certain hours or require permits for overnight street parking.
Ann Arbor, MI
Ann Arbor requires pool barriers meeting safety codes to prevent drowning. Fences must be at least 4 to 5 feet tall with self-closing, self-latching gates.
Ann Arbor, MI
Ann Arbor requires permits for retaining walls above a certain height, typically 4 feet. Engineering review may be required for taller walls.
Ann Arbor, MI
Ann Arbor restricts or prohibits intentional feeding of wildlife including deer, coyotes, and bears. Feeding wildlife creates public safety hazards and nuisa...
See how Ann Arbor's backyard fires rules stack up against other locations.
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