← Wisconsin burn ban rules›Current Fire Restrictions

Wisconsin Current Fire Restrictions (2026)

Conditional: Wisconsin has no statewide burn ban, and NO COUNTY IS CLOSED TO BURNING TODAY on the DNR's official burn-restriction feed: no county shows burning not allowed or DNR permits suspended. Burning hours are limited across the north, and they are set daily. In 30 counties and in northern Oconto County (the Townships of Brazeau, Bagley, Breed and those to the north), burning is allowed only with a DNR annual burning permit, only during set hours, and only for a covered barrel, a debris pile smaller than 6 by 6 by 6 feet, or a grass or wooded area smaller than 1 acre; anything larger needs a special burning permit from the local DNR Ranger Station. TODAY'S HOURS ARE 4 P.M. TO MIDNIGHT in all 30 of those counties - Adams, Ashland, Barron, Bayfield, Burnett, Chippewa, Clark, Douglas, Eau Claire, Florence, Forest, Iron, Jackson, Juneau, Langlade, Lincoln, Marathon, Marinette, Menominee, Monroe, Oneida, Polk, Price, Rusk, Sawyer, Shawano, Taylor, Vilas, Washburn and Wood - and in northern Oconto County. Since LawLert's November 4, 2026 reading, the 25 counties that had been at 9 a.m. to midnight, and northern Oconto, are back to the shorter 4 p.m. to midnight window. For northern Oconto the feed adds that where the ground around the burn is completely snow-covered and will stay so for the whole burn, a DNR permit is not required. In 12 counties - Columbia, Crawford, Dane, Grant, Green Lake, Iowa, Marquette, Portage, Richland, Sauk, Waupaca and Waushara - and in southern Oconto County, a DNR annual permit is not required from June 1 to December 31 unless emergency burning restrictions are in effect. In the other 29 counties the DNR does not issue burning permits; local fire departments, town chairpersons and municipal ordinances control burning there. The feed rates fire danger MODERATE in 20 southern counties (Columbia, Crawford, Dane, Dodge, Grant, Green, Iowa, Jefferson, Kenosha, Lafayette, Milwaukee, Ozaukee, Racine, Richland, Rock, Sauk, Vernon, Walworth, Washington and Waukesha) and LOW in the other 52. Each county carries its own posting date (October 30 to November 12, 2026), DAILY burn restrictions do not post until after 9 a.m. Central, and the DNR can suspend permits or shorten burning hours on any day, so check WisBURN or call 1-888-WIS-BURN (947-2876) on the day you plan to burn. Several counties also ask you to call the sheriff or dispatch center before burning a brush pile. Restrictions are set county by county; check your county before you burn.

Official source: apps.dnr.wi.gov →

Check the live restriction status: apps.dnr.wi.gov →

General legal information, not legal advice — verify important decisions with a licensed attorney.