Kenosha, WI Fire Regulations: Outdoor Burning (2026)
Outdoor burning rules in Kenosha, 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.
Key Facts
- Base rule
- Open burning and sky lanterns prohibited
- Cooking-fire setback
- 10 feet from any building
- Bonfire permit fee
- $200 nonrefundable, 3 hrs supervision
- Bonfire setback
- 50 feet from buildings/lot lines
- Penalty
- $100-$1,000 forfeiture, up to 60 days jail
Summary
Kenosha bans open burning citywide under Code § 3.19(B): "Open burning and sky lanterns are prohibited" except for narrow uses like welding, contained cooking fires kept 10 feet from buildings, firefighter training, permitted bonfires, and recreational fire pits, with fire officials empowered to order any noncompliant fire extinguished on sight.
Open Burning and sky lanterns are prohibited with the following exceptions:1.Small open flames for welding, acetylene torches, safety flares, heating tar or similar applications.2.Outdoor fires for cooking, but only if said fire is contained in a device made of metal, concrete or brick, and specifically designed for the cooking of food by heat, steam or smoke; said device is to be located not closer than ten (10) feet to any building or structure. Once cooking is complete, the fire must be extinguished....3.Bonfires, but only if a permit was first obtained from the Bureau...c.Applicant shall pay a nonrefundable permit fee of two hundred dollars ($200.00), which will include three (3) hours of event supervision by fire personnel....i.The bonfire shall not be within fifty (50) feet of a building or lot line.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 11 Update 1 | Zoning Ordinance: Supplement 9).
Full Breakdown
19(B) opens with a blanket rule: "Open burning and sky lanterns are prohibited," then lists exhaustive, narrow exceptions. Small open flames for welding, torches, safety flares, or heating tar are allowed. Outdoor cooking fires are permitted only in a metal, concrete, or brick device specifically designed for cooking food, positioned not closer than ten feet to any building or structure, and extinguished once cooking ends. 19(A) as a recreational fire with a fuel area greater than three feet in diameter and two feet in height, require a Bureau of Fire Prevention permit, liability insurance, a $200 nonrefundable fee covering three hours of fire-personnel supervision, an 8-foot diameter cap, and a 50-foot setback from buildings, lot lines, and combustibles.
19(B)(5)'s separate conditions are also excepted. 19(C), and enforcement officers may order any fire extinguished at their sole discretion. 02(C)(2). 19(E) by a forfeiture of $100 to $1,000 plus costs, with up to 60 days in jail if the forfeiture goes unpaid.
Violations & Fines
Igniting an open fire without qualifying for one of § 3.19(B)'s exceptions, or violating a permit's terms such as an unauthorized bonfire, is enforced jointly by the Kenosha Fire Department's Bureau of Fire Prevention and the Police Department. Under § 3.19(E), a conviction carries a forfeiture of $100 to $1,000 plus prosecution costs, with jail of up to 60 days for nonpayment; officers may order any fire extinguished immediately regardless of permit status.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is burning yard waste legal in Kenosha?
Do I need a permit to have a bonfire in Kenosha?
Who enforces Kenosha's open burning rules?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Kenosha
How Kenosha compares: Cities with the Strictest Outdoor Burning Rules·Compare Kenosha to another location·View the Wisconsin fire regulations overview
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