Any open, recreational, or cooking fires shall be constantly attended by a competent person until such fire is extinguished.  This person shall have a garden hose connected to a water supply or other fire-extinguishing equipment readily available for use.

Who Needs a Permit

If you are a resident of the City of Fitchburg who wishes to burn any approved materials, as detailed below, a burn permit is required, per City Ordinance Division 2.

What You Can Burn

Tree limbs and brush may be burned. The burning of all other materials is prohibited - this includes, but is not limited to, leaves, grass clippings, garden debris, and trash.
For approved ways to dispose of many organic and inorganic materials, check out these resources:

• 2018 Recycling Guide
• Grasscycling
• Public Works - Solid Waste

Where You Can Burn

All conditions that could cause a fire to spread to within 25 feet of a structure must be eliminated prior to ignition of the fire.

Open Burning

• Can only be conducted outside of the urban service area (the grey shaded area)
• Open burning is classified as any burning that does not take place in a commercially made fire pit or outdoor fireplace. 
• All open burning must be a minimum of 50 feet from any structure.

Recreational Fires

• May be conducted inside the urban service area, as long as a burn permit is obtained
• Fires must be maintained in a commercially made fire pits/outdoor fireplaces. 
• Must be a minimum of 25 feet from any structure.  

Obtain A Permit

Contact one our firehouses at 608-270-7050 or 270-7060 and request a burn permit. Burn permits are only issued on the day that you call and are only good for that day.

For more information about safety during, before, and after open burning, visit the WI DNR Burning Permits page.