Outdoor burning rules in Iowa City, IA β also called the burn ban, open burning, or fire restriction ordinance β set when you can burn yard waste, debris, or run a recreational fire.
Iowa City Code Title 6 Chapter 6 prohibits open burning generally, with limited exceptions for recreational fires in approved containers, portable outdoor fireplaces, and uses specifically approved by the Fire Code Official. Burning of lumber, leaves, yard waste, paper, cardboard, garbage, and similar materials is never permitted. Outdoor burning is banned 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. unless approved. Iowa DNR Rule 567 IAC 23.2 backstops the city ordinance, and all burning is suspended during any Iowa State Fire Marshal Johnson County burn ban.
Iowa City regulates open burning through Title 6 Chapter 6 of the City Code (https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/iowacityia/latest/iowacity_ia/0-0-0-2041), Section 6-6-1 prohibiting open burning subject to enumerated exceptions, in coordination with Iowa City's adoption of the International Fire Code under Title 17 and the Iowa DNR's open-burning rule at 567 IAC 23.2 (https://www.legis.iowa.gov/docs/iac/rule/567.23.2.pdf). The permitted exceptions are narrow: recreational fires in approved containers of steel, brick, or masonry; portable outdoor fireplaces; and specific uses approved in writing by the Fire Code Official. Burning of lumber, pallets, scrap wood, tree trimmings, leaves, yard waste, paper, cardboard, garbage, painted or treated wood, tires, and rubber-derived fuels is prohibited at all times. Outdoor burning is banned 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. unless permitted and approved by the Fire Code Official. The Iowa City Fire Department's education page at https://www.icgov.org/government/departments-and-divisions/fire-department/education-and-resources confirms these rules. Iowa DNR Rule 567 IAC 23.2 independently prohibits open burning of solid waste, household trash, and rubber-derived fuels statewide and imposes setback and nuisance limits. All open burning is automatically suspended whenever the Iowa State Fire Marshal declares a Johnson County burn ban (current list at https://dps.iowa.gov/divisions/state-fire-marshal/burn-bans). Contact: Iowa City Fire Department 319-356-5260; Fire Marshal Axel Swanson at firemarshal@iowa-city.org.
Conducting open burning outside the recreational-fire and portable-fireplace exceptions, burning prohibited materials (leaves, yard waste, garbage, treated wood, tires), burning between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m. without approval, or burning during an active Iowa State Fire Marshal Johnson County burn ban violates Title 6 Chapter 6. Iowa City Fire can issue municipal infraction citations with fines typically $100 to $500 per occurrence plus immediate extinguishment orders. Iowa DNR can assess civil penalties up to $10,000 per day under Iowa Code 455B.146 for unauthorized burning of solid waste.
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