Small backyard cooking, ceremony and recreational fires are generally allowed in Rock County towns if contained in a ring, barrel or pit and constantly attended, but open burning of yard debris is otherwise prohibited under DNR NR 429 without a permit and safe weather.
Backyard fires fall under both the Wisconsin DNR open-burning rules (NR 429.04, which lists recreational and cooking fires as a permitted exception) and local town ordinances. Under the Town of Fulton model, except for campfires and permitted bonfires, open burning is allowed only between 6 a.m. and 7 p.m., and every fire must be confined and constantly attended by an adult until cold. Larger bonfires require Fire Chief approval. During high fire danger the DNR suspends burn permits, so even a legal fire ring may be off-limits on a red-flag day. Always check daily burn restrictions before lighting up.
Local fire departments issue citations for unattended, oversized or out-of-hours fires; escaped fires create liability for suppression and damage costs.
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Rock County, WI
Wisconsin's cruelty statute (Ch. 951) makes it illegal to keep animals without proper food, water, and shelter, which is how hoarding is enforced. Rock Count...
Rock County, WI
Rock County has no blanket countywide wildlife-feeding ban, but deer and elk feeding is regulated statewide, and nuisance-feeding of wild animals is addresse...
Rock County, WI
Rock County encourages waste reduction and does not ban backyard composting. Wisconsin bans yard waste from landfills, so composting is favored. Nuisance con...
Rock County, WI
Rock County has no countywide ordinance regulating artificial turf. Whether synthetic grass is allowed, and any coverage or stormwater conditions, is decided...
Rock County, WI
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Rock County, WI
Collecting rainwater is legal in Wisconsin and Rock County sets no barrier to rain barrels. There is no state permit for a basic downspout rain barrel used f...
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