Outdoor burning rules in Rock County, WI — also called the burn ban, open burning, or fire restriction ordinance — set when you can burn yard waste, debris, or run a recreational fire.
Wisconsin DNR generally prohibits open burning except for narrow exceptions in NR 429.04, and you must burn under safe weather, hold any required DNR/town burn permit, and never burn garbage, plastics, rubber or oily material. Rock County towns add their own permit rules.
Under Wis. Admin. Code NR 429.04, open burning is prohibited with limited exceptions such as small quantities of dry leaves and plant clippings, brush and weeds on agricultural land, and recreational or cooking fires. All allowed burning must be done in a safe, pollution-free manner under favorable weather and must conform to local ordinances. Burning wet rubbish, garbage, oily substances, asphalt, plastic or rubber is never allowed. Many parts of Wisconsin require a free DNR burning permit (1-888-WIS-BURN), and Rock County towns like Fulton require their own permit and limit daytime hours (roughly 6 a.m. to 7 p.m.).
DNR and local fire departments enforce; illegal open burning can bring forfeitures plus liability for suppression costs and any escaped fire. Permits are suspended during high fire danger.
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