Des Moines, IA Fire Regulations: Outdoor Burning (2026)

5-7. Open Burning Prohibited

(a) Prohibition No person shall allow, cause or permit open burning of combustible materials within Polk County except as provided in 5.7(1-9). For purposes of this Section, a person shall be deemed to have permitted the open burning if that person permits the setting or use of open burning for the disposal of refuse, rubbish, garbage or other combustible material under his control, on land under his control, or by employees or other persons under his control. It shall be unlawful for any person to open burn or to permit open burning of any landscape waste within Polk County from any industrial source, commercial source, or multiple dwelling containing two or more apartment units. It shall be unlawful for any person to open burn or to permit open burning of any refuse, rubbish, garbage, landscape waste or other combustible material within the cities of Des Moines, West Des Moines, Clive, Windsor Heights, Urbandale, and Pleasant Hill from any source from and after September 21, 1983. In all other areas of Polk County, it shall be unlawful to open burn or permit open burning of any refuse, rubbish, garbage, landscape waste, or other combustible material, except that, unless prohibited by local ordinance, on any land site where the land use is for single-family dwelling or agricultural operations, open burning may be used to dispose of landscape waste originating on or growing on the same site.