Ann Arbor, MI Fire Regulations: Outdoor Burning (2026)
Outdoor burning rules in Ann Arbor, MI, also called the burn ban, open burning, or fire restriction ordinance, set when you can burn yard waste, debris, or run a recreational fire.
Key Facts
- Default rule
- Open burning prohibited
- Permitted uses
- Official duty, cooking, recreational fires only
- Enforcing office
- Planning & Development Services unit
- Max penalty
- $500 fine / 90 days jail
- Codified at
- City Code § 9:304, Ch. 116
Summary
Ann Arbor bans open burning by default and permits it only for three narrow, enumerated reasons under the city's Air Quality Control ordinance.
Open burning may be permitted only in the following circumstances: (1) Upon approval by the Fire Department, open fires may be set in performance of an official duty of any public officer if the fire is necessary for 1 or more of the following reasons or purpose: (a) For the prevention of a fire hazard which cannot be abated by other means... (c) For the protection of public health. (2) Fires may be used for the cooking of food, provided no smoke violation or other nuisance is created.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 26 Update 4).
Full Breakdown
Under Ann Arbor City Code § 9:304, open burning is prohibited citywide except in three enumerated situations: official-duty fires set by public officers (fire-hazard abatement, firefighter/employee training approved by the fire prevention bureau, or public-health protection), fires used to cook food without creating a smoke violation or nuisance, and recreational campfires meeting separate fire-code conditions. Anything outside these categories, burn barrels, yard-waste piles, debris fires, is not on the permitted list.
Violations & Fines
Violating Chapter 116 is punishable by a fine up to $500 plus prosecution costs or imprisonment up to 90 days; each day of continued violation is a separate offense under § 9:309.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I burn yard waste or trash in my Ann Arbor yard?
What's the penalty for illegal open burning in Ann Arbor?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Ann Arbor
How Ann Arbor compares: Cities with the Strictest Outdoor Burning Rules·Compare Ann Arbor to another location·View the Michigan fire regulations overview
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