Wisconsin · Burn Bans

The rule today

Wisconsin has no statewide burn ban, but the DNR has SUSPENDED ALL DNR-ISSUED BURNING PERMITS in 19 counties: Ashland, Barron, Bayfield, Burnett, Douglas, Florence, Forest, Iron, Lincoln, Marathon, Marinette, Oneida, Polk, Price, Rusk, Sawyer, Taylor, Vilas and Washburn. In those counties the DNR's official burn-restriction feed says burning is not allowed because of fire weather conditions: burning in barrels, debris piles and grass or wooded areas with a DNR annual burning permit is prohibited, and campfires, though strongly discouraged, are allowed only if used solely for cooking or warming. Those postings are dated October 9, 2026 for Florence, Forest and Marinette and October 10, 2026 for the other 16, and incorporated villages and cities may set their own burn restrictions. In 11 more counties - Adams, Chippewa, Clark, Eau Claire, Jackson, Juneau, Langlade, Menominee, Monroe, Shawano and Wood - 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 from 6 p.m. to midnight, 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. 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 HIGH in 16 counties, MODERATE in 17 and LOW in 39. The feed is not a same-day statewide snapshot - each county carries its own posting date, and those range from June 5 to October 10, 2026 - and DAILY burn restrictions do not post until after 9 a.m. Central, 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.

✓ Verified against the official source · October 10, 2026 · Official source ↗