Dakota County, MN Fire Regulations: Outdoor Burning (2026)
Outdoor burning rules in Dakota 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 needed when
- Fire over 3 ft, no snow cover
- Allowed material
- Grass, leaves, brush, untreated wood
- Banned
- Garbage, plastic, treated wood, rubber
- Permit cost
- $5 online, DNR, calendar year
- Statute
- Minn. Stat. 88.171
Summary
Open burning of brush, leaves, and untreated wood needs a Minnesota DNR burning permit whenever the fire is larger than a recreational fire and the ground is not snow-covered. Burning garbage, plastics, treated wood, and rubber is illegal statewide.
No person shall conduct, cause, or permit open burning of rubber, plastics, chemically treated materials, or other materials which produce excessive or noxious smoke including, but not limited to, tires, railroad ties, chemically treated lumber, composite shingles, tar paper, insulation, composition board, sheetrock, wiring, paint, or paint filters.
Full Breakdown
The DNR requires an open-burning permit when a fire is more than 3 feet high and 3 feet in diameter, when the ground is not covered by at least 3 inches of snow, and when the fire is not in an approved burner or cooking device. Permitted material is limited to 'vegetative material, such as grass, leaves, brush, and untreated lumber.' Minn. Stat. 88.171 bans open burning of rubber, plastics, chemically treated materials, tires, treated lumber, shingles, and similar smoke-producing waste. Dakota County itself issues no burn permit; you obtain the $5 online permit from the DNR (or your city fire department), subject to daily fire-danger restrictions.
Violations & Fines
Burning without a required permit or burning prohibited materials violates Minn. Stat. 88.171 and 88.22; penalties include misdemeanor charges, fines, and liability for suppression costs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I burn leaves in my yard in Dakota County?
Is burning household garbage allowed?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Dakota County
How Dakota County compares: Cities with the Strictest Outdoor Burning Rules·Compare Dakota County to another location·View the Minnesota fire regulations overview
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