Appleton, WI Fire Regulations: Fire Pits & Backyard Fires (2026)
Fire pit rules in Appleton, WI, also called outdoor burning, recreational fire, or open flame ordinances, cover fuel types, clearances, and when burning is allowed.
Key Facts
- Permit
- Required unless using a commercial gas/propane/charcoal appliance
- Setback
- 10 feet from buildings, fences, combustibles, property lines
- Burn hours
- 6 a.m.-10 p.m. Sun-Thu, 6 a.m.-midnight Fri/Sat
- Attendant age
- At least 18 years old, extinguisher on hand
- Wind limit
- No burning above 9 mph, per county comm center
- Annual permit term
- January 1 through December 31
Summary
Recreational fire pits, outdoor fireplaces and open cooking fires in Appleton need a Fire Department permit unless the fire is fueled by natural gas, propane or charcoal in a commercially manufactured appliance. Permitted fires must sit at least 10 feet from any building, fence or property line.
No open outdoor fires, including fires confined within outdoor fireplaces and outdoor cooking fires, with the exception of fires fueled by natural gas, propane or charcoal in commercially manufactured appliances or a non-commercially manufactured appliance approved by the Fire Chief or his/her designee, shall be started by any person unless a permit is first obtained from the Fire Department. ... (4) No permit will be issued for any fire within ten (10) feet of any building, structure, fence, combustible material or property line. ... The Fire Chief or his/her designee shall have the authority to prohibit any and all open burning when atmospheric conditions or local circumstances make such fire hazardous. No burning will be allowed if wind conditions will cause smoke, embers or other burning materials to be carried towards any building or other combustible material, nor anytime the wind is in excess of nine miles per hour (9 m.p.h.) as measured by the Outagamie County Emergency Communication Center.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: the cited page had not changed since it was quoted.
Full Breakdown
Section 6-12(a) requires a Fire Department permit before starting any open outdoor fire, including fires in outdoor fireplaces and outdoor cooking fires, unless the fire burns natural gas, propane or charcoal in a commercially manufactured appliance, or in a non-commercial appliance the Fire Chief's designee has approved. m. to midnight Friday, Saturday and any day before a federal holiday. No permit will issue for a fire within 10 feet of any building, structure, fence, combustible material or property line, and only fuels and appliances the Fire Chief's designee approves may be used.
Every burn must be attended at all times by someone at least 18 years old with an approved extinguishing method on hand. The Fire Chief's designee can prohibit all open burning when atmospheric conditions make it hazardous, and no burning is allowed if wind would carry smoke or embers toward a building or other combustible material, or whenever wind exceeds 9 miles per hour as measured by the Outagamie County Emergency Communication Center.
Violations & Fines
Burning without the required permit, outside permitted hours, closer than 10 feet to a building or property line, or in winds above 9 miles per hour violates Section 6-12 and is unlawful under Section 6-18, punishable by citation under Section 1-17 and the deposit schedule in Section 1-18. Leaving a permitted fire unattended, or attended by someone under 18 or without an approved extinguishing method, is likewise a violation of the permit conditions the Fire Chief's designee sets under Section 6-12(a).
Frequently Asked Questions
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Sources & Official References
Other rules in Appleton
How Appleton compares: Cities with the Strictest Fire Pit Rules·Compare Appleton to another location·View the Wisconsin fire regulations overview
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Fire Pits & Backyard Fires in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Outagamie County handle fire pits & backyard fires.