De Pere, WI Fire Regulations: Outdoor Burning (2026)

Section 58-9(a) of the De Pere Code of Ordinances states the baseline rule plainly: all open burning is prohibited within the city, except as otherwise provided in the section. The only carve-outs are recreational campfires and cooking fires at single- and two-family homes that meet the ten conditions in subsection (b), residential cooking grills under subsection (c), and approved live fire training for fire protection purposes under subsection (d). Beyond the day-to-day ban, subsection (e) gives the fire chief emergency authority to impose an additional burning ban and restrictions whenever environmental conditions create a serious threat of fire to life and property.

During such a ban, no person may set, build or maintain any open fire except a propane grill on a noncombustible surface, may not discard matches or ashes near combustible vegetation, and may not light fireworks or similar devices outside an authorized, fire-department-supervised display. The fire chief lifts the emergency ban once conditions change so the serious fire threat is no longer present. Because the emergency power layers on top of the standing prohibition, even an otherwise-compliant recreational fire or charcoal grill can be shut down citywide during a drought or high-wind advisory until the fire chief rescinds the order.