Janesville, WI Fire Regulations: Outdoor Burning (2026)

Sec. 16-188(a) makes it unlawful to burn rubbish, trash, leaves or debris anywhere within the City of Janesville, in any cooking device or in any campfire pit, except as allowed in subsections (b) through (d). Subsection (b) permits City employees to burn leaves on public land, and City or cemetery employees to burn leaves on cemetery property, only if the burn occurs at least 200 feet from the nearest privately owned land and only with the express permission of the Chief of the Fire Department or a designee.

Subsection (c) allows incinerators on commercial properties, but only if the Fire Chief or a designee approves each incinerator and it is installed and run under the manufacturer's specifications and every applicable City ordinance, building code, and state and federal fire code. Subsection (d) exempts fires the Fire Department itself sets for training. Subsection (e) requires anyone burning on property they do not own to first get the owner's permission, and subsection (f) bars smoke, ash or fire from any outdoor fire from creating a nuisance for neighboring properties: a police officer, code inspector, Fire Marshal or other Fire Department officer who finds a nuisance can order the fire extinguished on the spot.

Separately, Sec. 16-190 lets the Fire Marshal issue special bonfire or temporary burn permits for events, subject to a 50-foot clearance from buildings and combustibles, a 20-mph wind cap and constant adult attendance. Sec. 16-196 extends the enforcement and penalty scheme of Article II (Sec. 16-31) to this article: a forfeiture of $25.00 to $500.00 per offense plus prosecution costs, with each day of continued violation a separate offense.