Oakland County, MI Fire Regulations: Wildfire Zones (2026)

Oakland County lies in southeast Michigan's deciduous hardwood forest belt and is one of the most densely developed counties in the state, with cities like Royal Oak, Troy, Farmington Hills, and Pontiac comprising the majority of land area. Michigan DNR Forest Resources Division tracks wildfire risk statewide, but burn-permit restrictions in the southern Lower Peninsula (including all of Oakland County) are administered by local fire departments rather than the DNR. There is no countywide wildfire hazard severity zone map. The closest wildland fire risk in the region is in the larger forested parcels around Holly, Highland, Springfield, and Independence Townships, where state recreation areas (Pontiac Lake, Proud Lake, Bald Mountain) and private woodlots can carry fire during drought conditions. Residents in these wooded areas should: (1) check michigan.gov/BurnPermit before any outdoor fire; (2) maintain a 30-foot defensible perimeter cleared of dead vegetation; (3) keep roofs and gutters clear of leaf litter. The International Wildland-Urban Interface Code has NOT been adopted by Oakland County or its municipalities.