Davenport, IA Fire Regulations: Outdoor Burning (2026)
Outdoor burning rules in Davenport, IA, 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
- Leaves/Yard Waste
- Burning prohibited
- Clean Wood
- Only on declared burn days
- Hours
- Sunrise to sunset only
- Clearance
- 50 ft from structures
- Always Illegal
- Trash, plastic, tires
Summary
Davenport bans open burning of leaves, garbage, and yard waste. Only clean wood can be burned, and only on a day the fire chief declares a burn day by recorded phone message, between sunrise and sunset.
The burning of wood in an open fire on private property shall be prohibited unless the fire chief or his designee has declared a particular day a "burn day" by recorded message on the telephone.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4820400; v43 updated 2026-03-11; through 03-11-2026).
Full Breakdown
Municipal Code 15.32.030 prohibits open fires that contain garbage, rubbish, refuse, building materials, business waste, or prohibited materials like plastic, rubber, and tires. Leaves, grass, and yard waste fall under refuse, so burning them is illegal in the city. Clean wood may be burned in an open fire only when the fire chief declares a burn day by recorded phone message, only between sunrise and sunset with the fire out by dark, kept 50 feet from any structure, and constantly attended with a hose or extinguisher. The fire department can issue permits for ceremonial bonfires, disaster debris, prescribed prairie burns, and training fires. Iowa DNR rules under IAC 567 Chapter 23 also apply.
Violations & Fines
Illegal open burning is a simple misdemeanor fined up to $625, or a municipal infraction with a civil fine up to $750 for a first offense and $1,000 for repeats. The fire chief can also order any hazardous fire out.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I burn leaves in Davenport?
How do I know if it's a burn day?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Davenport
How Davenport compares: Cities with the Strictest Outdoor Burning Rules·Compare Davenport to another location·View the Iowa fire regulations overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.