Dane County, WI Fire Regulations: Fire Pits & Backyard Fires (2026)
Fire pit rules in Dane County, WI, also called outdoor burning, recreational fire, or open flame ordinances, cover fuel types, clearances, and when burning is allowed.
Key Facts
- Fires allowed
- Only in firepits, grills, or designated spots
- Firewood origin limit
- Within 50 miles, inside Wisconsin
- Penalty
- $10-$100 forfeiture per offense
- Enforced by
- Parks staff and law enforcement, sec. 53.15
- Scope
- County park land only
- Nonpayment
- Up to 60 days county jail
Summary
Dane County limits open fires in its parks to firepits, fireplaces, grills, or spots the parks division specifically designates, so a freelance campfire anywhere else on park land is banned outright. Firewood you bring in must come from within 50 miles of the park and from inside Wisconsin, closing off long-distance or out-of-state loads. Violators face a park-ordinance forfeiture.
53.03 PROHIBITED ITEMS OR USES. In addition to activities otherwise prohibited by law, the following shall be prohibited unless specifically authorized by written permit: (1) (a) Building of fires other than in firepits, fireplaces, grills or areas designated by the parks division; (b) Possession of firewood that originates from more than 50 miles away from a county park or from outside the State of Wisconsin.
Full Breakdown
Chapter 53's ban on unauthorized fires covers every acre the Dane County Parks Division manages, Lake Farm, Token Creek, the Yahara Heights trails, and every other county park. 03(1)(a) permits a fire only inside a firepit, fireplace, or grill the division has installed, or in a spot its staff designates in writing; anywhere else, a campfire needs a written permit under the same chapter's general permit scheme. 03(1)(b) attacks a second problem, firewood brought from far away or from out of state, by barring possession of any firewood sourced from more than 50 miles from the park or from beyond Wisconsin's borders.
Neither provision reaches private property; it governs county park land only, not backyard fire pits in Madison, Fitchburg, or any Dane County town. 15: any law enforcement officer or a parks-division employee designated by ordinance can issue a citation or arrest someone caught violating the chapter, and officers may enter park buildings or enclosures to investigate. 14(1), a forfeiture of not less than $10 nor more than $100 per offense, plus costs of prosecution, and someone who can pay but refuses can be jailed up to 60 days until the forfeiture is satisfied.
Violations & Fines
An illegal fire or out-of-range firewood under Section 53.03(1) draws a Section 53.14(1) forfeiture of $10 to $100 per offense plus prosecution costs, with each separate incident charged on its own. A person able to pay who refuses can be confined in the Dane County jail for up to 60 days until the forfeiture clears. Parks staff or any officer may also simply order the fire out and remove violators from the park.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I build a campfire anywhere in a Dane County park?
Can I bring my own firewood to a county park?
What's the penalty for an illegal fire in a county park?
Does this rule cover fires on my own property in Dane County?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Dane County
How Dane County compares: Cities with the Strictest Fire Pit Rules·Compare Dane County to another location·View the Wisconsin fire regulations overview
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