Woodbury, MN Fire Regulations: Outdoor Burning (2026)

Larger open burns - clearing brush and natural woody debris - are regulated separately from recreational fires under Woodbury City Code Section 8-3. Single-family homeowners must obtain a brush fire (burning) permit before burning; commercial burning is prohibited. There is no charge, but the application must be made at least 24 hours in advance, an inspection is required before the permit is issued, and permits are issued for up to three days at a time. The homeowner must retain a signed copy of the approved permit. Only clean, dry, natural wood may be burned, and individual wood pieces may not exceed 4 inches in diameter; treated or painted wood, plastic, rubber, leaves and grass are prohibited. The fire may be a maximum of 6 feet in diameter and is limited to daylight hours only. It must be at least 5 feet from property lines and not within 25 feet of a structure, and no burning is allowed when wind speed exceeds 10 miles per hour. Accelerants are prohibited, the fire must be constantly attended by the permit holder, and a connected garden hose or other extinguishing means must be readily available. Minnesota's open-burning law (Minn. Stat. 88.171) separately prohibits burning rubber, plastics, treated materials and other sources of noxious smoke. When the Minnesota DNR issues a burning ban, no new permits are issued and all existing permits are cancelled.