Milwaukee, WI Fire Regulations: Outdoor Burning (2026)
Outdoor burning rules in Milwaukee, 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
- Container
- approved/listed or metal-concrete-brick burner
- Clearance
- 15 feet from combustible construction
- Grill exemption
- charcoal/LP grills at 1-2 family homes
- Attendance
- constantly attended, extinguisher required
- Penalty
- $150-$5,000 per violation per day
Summary
Milwaukee allows open burning only in an approved container or metal, concrete or brick burner, kept 15 feet from combustible construction and watched until out.
1. CONTAINERS FOR OPEN BURNING. a. Open burning shall be conducted only in an approved and listed container or a substantial burner built of metal, concrete or brick, well covered or screened to prevent the escape of sparking and burning embers. b. A burner shall not be operated within 15 feet of any combustible construction. Open flame cooking devices, including charcoal burners and LP gas burners, are exempt from this requirement for one and 2-family dwellings. c. Open burning shall be constantly attended until the fire is extinguished.
Full Breakdown
Milwaukee's Fire Prevention Code lets you burn outdoors only inside an approved and listed container or a solid metal, concrete or brick burner that's covered or screened to stop sparks and embers from escaping. The burner has to sit at least 15 feet from anything combustible, though charcoal grills and LP gas cookers at one- and two-family homes are exempt from that clearance rule. Every open fire must be constantly attended until extinguished, with a minimum 4-A rated portable fire extinguisher or other approved equipment like dirt, sand, a hose or a water barrel on hand. The commissioner may delegate enforcement to the police department.
Violations & Fines
Skipping the approved container, the 15-foot clearance or constant attendance is a Building and Zoning Code violation: forfeiture of $150 to $5,000 per violation per day under s. 200-19, or jail for nonpayment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I burn leaves or trash in a barrel in a Milwaukee yard?
Are charcoal grills exempt from the clearance rule?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Milwaukee
How Milwaukee compares: Cities with the Strictest Outdoor Burning Rules·Compare Milwaukee to another location·View the Wisconsin fire regulations overview
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Outdoor Burning in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Milwaukee County handle outdoor burning.