Carver County, MN Fire Regulations: Outdoor Burning (2026)
Outdoor burning rules in Carver County, MN, 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
- Permit required
- Yes, via DNR online burn permit service
- Structure setback
- 100 feet for open burns
- Water setback
- 50 feet from streams/lakes
- Recreational fires
- Exempt from permit year-round
- Burn ban authority
- Department or DNR can suspend all permits
- Penalty
- Misdemeanor, separate offense per day
Summary
Open burning of any material in unincorporated Carver County requires a valid permit obtained through the Minnesota DNR's online burning permit service before any fire is lit, even when the ground is snow covered. The Department or DNR can declare a burning ban that halts new permits and suspends existing ones, and burning leaves, tires, treated wood, or other waste is prohibited outright regardless of permit status.
(A) Permit required. No person shall start or allow any open burning on any property in the county without having obtained valid open burning permit. ... (C) Snow cover. A permit is required at all times throughout the year, even when the ground is snow covered. ... § 53.13 BURNING BAN, BURNING RESTRICTIONS OR AIR QUALITY ALERT. No open burn or agricultural fires will be permitted when the Department or DNR has officially declared burning restrictions. A variance to permit open burning, however, may be obtained for special circumstances through the DNR.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2025 S-20: Supplement contains: Local legislation current through Ord. 111-2025, passed 7-25-25).
Full Breakdown
07. Recreational fires are the one exemption, allowed year-round without a permit. 05(B): open burning cannot occur within 100 feet of any structure, and, except for recreational and running fires, not within 50 feet of a stream, river, lake, or other water body; a burn can never be left smoldering without flame. 06 bars burning leaves, tires, treated or painted wood, plastics, shingles, insulation, wiring, food waste, animal carcasses (absent Department approval), and construction or demolition debris, regardless of permit status. 13, no open burn or agricultural fire is permitted once the Department or DNR has officially declared burning restrictions, though the DNR may grant a variance for special circumstances. 10(B). 05(F).
Violations & Fines
Burning without a permit, violating permit conditions, or breaking the prohibited-materials list is a misdemeanor under § 53.99(A), with each day a violation continues charged as a separate offense. The County Board may also pursue civil actions or injunctive relief to stop or correct a violation and recover its corrective-action costs, including certifying them as a special property tax assessment, under § 53.99(B). A violator must apply for any future permit through the Department, per § 53.99(C).
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to burn brush or yard waste in unincorporated Carver County?
How close to my house can I set an open burn?
Can Carver County stop all burning during dry, high fire-danger conditions?
What happens if I burn without a permit?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Carver County
How Carver County compares: Cities with the Strictest Outdoor Burning Rules·Compare Carver County to another location·View the Minnesota fire regulations overview
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