Madison, WI Fire Regulations: Outdoor Burning (2026)
Outdoor burning rules in Madison, 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
- Governing section
- MGO § 34.307(1)-(5)
- License required for
- Open burning generally, from Fire Chief
- Always prohibited
- Rubbish, leaves, construction waste
- Burn-ban trigger
- DNR air quality below good/moderate
- Fire-danger trigger
- DNR sets Dane County risk High+
- General fire code penalty
- $10-$1,000 per day forfeiture
Summary
Madison bans open burning without a license from the Fire Chief. MGO § 34.307 prohibits burning rubbish, leaves and construction waste outright and adds a Dane County DNR air-quality and fire-danger trigger that shuts down bonfires, prairie fires and outdoor fireplaces whenever conditions turn unhealthy or high-risk.
34.307 - OPEN BURNING. The following requirements are in addition to the requirements found in IFC section 307:(1)In addition to authorization from the Chief, a license must be obtained in accordance with Secs. 7.45 and 34.105(14)(a), MGO.(2)Open burning is not permitted without a license. The burning of rubbish, leaves, construction waste, and other similar material is prohibited.(3)No person shall kindle a recreational fire upon the land of another without the permission of the owner.(4)IFC section 307.4.2 Recreational Fire is not included as part of this code.(5)Bon fires, natural lawn and prairie restoration fires and outdoor fireplaces shall not be ignited or kindled when either or both of the following conditions exist:(a)When air quality is other than good or moderate as defined by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR).(b)When the DNR has set fire danger at High or above for Dane County.
Full Breakdown
Sec. 307, Open Burning, layers Madison-specific rules on top of IFC section 307. Subsection (1) requires authorization from the Fire Chief plus a license under Secs. 105(14)(a) before any open burning. Subsection (2) makes open burning without a license unlawful and flatly prohibits burning rubbish, leaves, construction waste and other similar material regardless of licensing. 2) from Madison's code entirely, meaning the city's licensing and pit/fireplace exceptions are the only paths to a lawful outdoor fire. Subsection (5) adds a standing burn-ban trigger: bonfires, natural lawn and prairie restoration fires, and outdoor fireplaces cannot be ignited when the Wisconsin DNR rates air quality as anything other than good or moderate, or when the DNR sets fire danger at High or above for Dane County, though the Fire Chief may exempt professionally trained prairie-restoration burns supervised by DNR Burn Boss Type 3 (RXB3) certified individuals. 307(7).
Violations & Fines
Burning without the license required by Sec. 34.307(1)-(2), or burning rubbish, leaves or construction waste outright, is unlawful open burning. Chapter 34's general penalty clause, Sec. 34.01(15)(a), sets a forfeiture of not less than $10 nor more than $1,000 for any violation of the fire code where a penalty isn't otherwise specified, with every day of a continuing violation treated as a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I get a permit to burn leaves or brush in Madison?
Who authorizes open burning in Madison?
When are fires banned even if I have a license or pit?
Can I burn a fire on my neighbor's property?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Madison
How Madison compares: Cities with the Strictest Outdoor Burning Rules·Compare Madison to another location·View the Wisconsin fire regulations overview
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Outdoor Burning in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Dane County handle outdoor burning.