Stearns County, MN Fire Regulations: Outdoor Burning (2026)
Outdoor burning rules in Stearns County, MN, 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 ordinance
- Stearns County Ordinance No. 431, Sec. 5.2
- Prohibited act
- Open burning or incineration of solid waste
- Where it applies
- Areas where refuse collection is reasonably available
- Enforcing agency
- Stearns County Environmental Services Department
- Maximum penalty
- $1,000 fine or 90 days jail, or both
- Continuing violation
- Each day counted as a separate offense
Summary
Stearns County's Solid Waste Ordinance No. 431 prohibits open burning or incineration of solid waste anywhere the County Board has determined that trash collection service is reasonably available. The Environmental Services Department enforces the ban under Section 5.2, and violators face a misdemeanor charge carrying up to a $1,000 fine and 90 days in jail.
No person shall cause, permit or allow land or property under their control to be used for open burning or incineration of solid waste in any area of the County for which the Board has determined refuse collection service is reasonably available, unless otherwise provided by this Ordinance.
Full Breakdown
2 of Stearns County Ordinance No. 431, the Solid Waste Ordinance, bars any person from causing, permitting or allowing land or property under their control to be used for open burning or incineration of solid waste in any area of the County where the Board has determined refuse collection service is reasonably available. 16 separately bars open burning of solid waste at any licensed disposal facility site. 07 and 400. 8 provides for an initial site visit to confirm the violation and set a remediation timeline, followed by a compliance check visit; continued noncompliance triggers an Excessive Consumption of Services fee certified as a special assessment if unpaid. 06 to gather evidence.
Violations & Fines
Violating Section 5.2 is a misdemeanor under Section 12.1, punishable by a fine of up to $1,000, imprisonment of up to 90 days, or both, with each day the burning continues charged as a separate offense. The Department can also seek a civil injunction through the County Attorney and recover its enforcement costs and attorney's fees from the responsible party under Sections 12.2 and 12.4.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I burn household trash on my Stearns County property?
What happens if I burn waste illegally in Stearns County?
Who enforces the open burning ban in Stearns County?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Stearns County
How Stearns County compares: Cities with the Strictest Outdoor Burning Rules·Compare Stearns County to another location·View the Minnesota fire regulations overview
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