Open and Outdoor Burning Regulation

What do campfires, patio burners, burns to clear brush or agricultural fields, trash barrel burns, outdoor wood-burning boilers, and even fire department training burns have in common?

They are all potential fire or air pollution hazards--and they all may be subject to state and township regulation.



The Michigan Department of Environmental Quality has developed a model open burning ordinance and guide:
Model Ordinance for Outdoor and Open Burning (.pdf)
Model Ordinance Template (Text file)

Visit the MDEQ's Open Burning Web page for more information.

Fire Suppression Training
Fire departments must notify the MDEQ at least 10 days prior to conducting fire suppression training on a structure. Learn more about the notification requirements as well as other environmental protection guidelines in Fire Suppression Training: Environmental Protection Guidance (pdf) .

Fire Safety
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources is responsible for issuing burn permits in the Upper Peninsula and Northern Lower Peninsula unless a municipality wishes to.

Municipalities located in the Southern Lower Peninsula issue burn permits under Part 515, Prevention and Suppression of Forest Fires, of the Natural Reources and Environmental Protection Act, Public Act 451 of 1994, MCL 324.51501, et seq.

For information on whether a burn permit is required and what agency issues permits in a specific area of the state, visit the MDNR Web page: Obtaining a Burn Permit

Air Pollution
According to the MDEQ, "While it may seem harmless, outdoor burning generates air pollution, which affects human health and is the source of many odor and nuisance complaints."

Open burning regulations are enforced by each District Office of the Air Quality Division, Michigan Department of Environmental Quality.

According to the MDEQ, "open burning" is the burning of unwanted materials such as paper, trees, brush, leaves, grass, and other debris, where smoke and other emissions are released directly into the air without passing through a chimney or stack.

Open burning also includes incineration devices that do not control the combustion air to maintain an adequate temperature and do not provide sufficient residence time for complete combustion (R 336.1115(b) and R 299.4104).