Eagan, MN Fire Regulations: Outdoor Burning (2026)

The City of Eagan's Fire Prevention division administers open burning under a permit process tied to the Minnesota DNR. A minimum of five (5) acres is required to obtain an open burn permit, and the burn site must maintain a minimum of 300 feet from all combustible materials, including dwellings and structures. Applications are submitted on DNR-prescribed forms to the Fire Chief, Fire Marshal, or Fire Inspector. The open burn site must have available appropriate communication and fire suppression equipment. No permits are issued when the Minnesota DNR has officially declared a burning ban due to potential hazardous fire conditions, or during Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) Air Quality Alerts. This open burning permit is distinct from the recreational fire permit (Sec. 10.40, Subd. 6), which governs small backyard fires under 3 feet. Because most Eagan residential lots are far smaller than 5 acres, true open burning (brush piles, land clearing) is generally not permitted in developed neighborhoods; residents instead rely on the recreational fire permit for contained fires. Yard waste, leaves, grass clippings, and garden vegetation may not be burned in recreational fires.