Wisconsin · Burn Bans

Before

Wisconsin has no statewide burn ban, and the DNR's SUSPENSION OF DNR-ISSUED BURNING PERMITS HAS BEEN LIFTED in all 19 counties where it had applied - Ashland, Barron, Bayfield, Burnett, Douglas, Florence, Forest, Iron, Lincoln, Marathon, Marinette, Oneida, Polk, Price, Rusk, Sawyer, Taylor, Vilas and Washburn. On the DNR's official burn-restriction feed, those counties' postings, dated October 12 to October 14, 2026, now say burning is allowed with a DNR annual burning permit. In 30 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 (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 MODERATE in 11 counties and LOW in 61, with none rated HIGH. The feed is not a same-day statewide snapshot - each county carries its own posting date, and those range from June 5 to October 14, 2026 - DAILY burn restrictions do not post until after 9 a.m. Central, and the DNR can suspend permits again 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.

Now

Wisconsin has no statewide burn ban, and no county's DNR-issued burning permits are suspended. On the DNR's official burn-restriction feed, 8 counties - Adams, Chippewa, Clark, Eau Claire, Jackson, Juneau, Monroe and Wood - now allow burning with a DNR annual burning permit from 9 a.m. to midnight (their postings are dated October 15 to October 16, 2026), 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. In 22 counties - Ashland, Barron, Bayfield, Burnett, Douglas, Florence, Forest, Iron, Langlade, Lincoln, Marathon, Marinette, Menominee, Oneida, Polk, Price, Rusk, Sawyer, Shawano, Taylor, Vilas and Washburn - 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 those same 3 kinds of burn. In all 30 of these counties, 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 LOW in all 72 counties. The feed is not a same-day statewide snapshot - each county carries its own posting date, and those range from June 5 to October 16, 2026 - DAILY burn restrictions do not post until after 9 a.m. Central, and the DNR can shorten burning hours or suspend permits again 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.