Burning Permits & Regulations

  • Dry-cut firewood can be burned in an outdoor fireplace or a  below-ground fire pit without a permit.
  • Any other open burning is prohibited in the City of Stevens Point without a burning permit.
  • Read our Complete Burning Regulations (below) for more information.
  • Burning permits are available from the Fire Department at no charge. 
  • Permits are issued and valid for the day of the burning operation only.
    • Permit requests must be called in no less than one hour prior to the burning operation. 
  • Burning Permits are not issued when:
    • WI DNR has recommended a burning ban
    • Wind Speed is over 9 mph at the 1701 Franklin St. Station 1 location
    • Other dangerous conditions are present per the Fire Chief's discretion
  • To request a burning permit, call 715-344-1833. 
  • A permit will be completed and emailed to you. 
  • There is no need to make a trip to the fire station.

Before You Call

Complete City Burning Regulations

A. Open Burning.

1. Open burning is the process of burning any materials where the products of combustion pass directly into the open air without going through a chimney or stack.

2. Except as provided in subsection C, open burning is prohibited in the City of Stevens Point without a burning permit approved by the Chief of the Stevens Point Fire Department or his/her designee.

3. Fires should be constantly attended by a person 18 years of age or older until such fire is extinguished.

4. A garden hose connected to a water supply or other fire extinguishing equipment shall be readily available for use.

5. The Stevens Point Fire Department is authorized to require any fire to be immediately discontinued if determined that the smoke emissions are offensive to occupants of surrounding properties or if the fire is determined to constitute a hazardous condition.

6. The Stevens Point Fire Department shall have the authority to prohibit any or all open fires when atmospheric conditions or local circumstances make such fires extraordinarily hazardous. No burning will be allowed if wind conditions will cause smoke, embers, or other burning materials to be carried towards any building or other combustible material, nor anytime the wind is in excess of nine miles per hour (9 m.p.h.) as measured at the Stevens Point Fire Department, 1701 Franklin Street.

7. Fires are to be at least ten (10) feet from any building structure, fence, combustible material, or property line.

8. Fires are to be at least fifty (50) feet from any commercial building, including multifamily residential other than one- and two-family dwellings.

9. Responsibility for fire. Any damage caused to another person's property by burning of any kind, whether authorized or not, shall be the responsibility of the person(s) responsible for igniting the fire. The city may charge the cost of fire investigation and extinguishment to those responsible for the ignition of the fire.

10. Section NR 502.11, Wis. Adm. Code, allows for the burning of dry, unpainted, and untreated wood, stumps, or trees from a commercial business only after they have received a wood burning site license from this Department. Burning permits can be issued to burn brush and trees cleared for forestry, agriculture, road construction, or building construction. They cannot be issued to burn waste generated as part of a business activity (i.e., cardboard, lumber, etc.)

B. Open Burning with a Permit

1. A permit must be obtained to burn as described in Section A Number 10.

2. Permits are issued at the Stevens Point Fire Department, Station 1 (1701 Franklin Street), Station 2 (4401 Industrial Park Drive), or by calling 715-344-1833.

3. Permits are issued and valid for the day of the burning operation only. Permit requests must be called in no less than one hour prior to the burning operation.

4. Burning is prohibited in any zoned Residential area.

5. Burning must be completed by 9:00 PM.

6. All operations must comply with WI Adm. Code NR 502.11 regulations on open burning.

7. A site visit and inspection by fire department personnel may be required, dependent upon the area being burned and the fuel load present.

C. Open Burning Allowed without a Permit.

1. Fire confined within a commercially manufactured outdoor fireplace.

a. Constructed and sold for the purpose of containing an outdoor recreational fire.

b. Must be used in accordance with all the manufacturer's safety requirements.

c. Must be placed on a non-combustible surface.

d. Gasoline or other flammable liquids shall not be stored or used in the vicinity of this unit.

e. The fireplace cannot be used within ten (10) feet of a building, structure, lot line, combustible materials, or in high winds.

f. Must include a bowl or pit for holding wood, must be covered, and have a method for/of containing embers and sparks.

g. The bowl or pit shall not exceed three (3) feet in diameter.

2. Fires located in a below-ground fire pit.

a. Below-ground fire pits shall be constructed with a minimum depth of four (4) inches and a maximum diameter of three (3) feet. Burning materials must be contained within this enclosure at all times. Such fire pits shall be surrounded by non-combustible materials such as concrete, rock, or cement blocks. Fire shall not extend more than three (3) feet above the pit.

b. The fire pit cannot be used within ten (10) feet of a building, structure, lot line, combustible materials, or in high winds.

c. Gasoline or other flammable liquids shall not be stored or used in the vicinity of this unit.

3. Only dry-cut firewood can be burned when burning without a permit in an outdoor fireplace or a fire pit. These materials must fit within the confines of these devices or spaces.

4. Liquid Petroleum (LP) and Natural Gas (NG) fueled cooking devices.

a. Shall not be operated on balconies except in single-family dwellings.

b. Shall not be operated within ten (10) feet of a building or a lot line, except in single-family dwellings.

c. Must be used in accordance with all the manufacturer's safety requirements.

5. Charcoal grills and open-flame cooking devices.

a. Shall not be used on combustible balconies except in single-family dwellings.

b. Shall not be used within ten (10) feet of a building or lot line, except in single-family dwellings.

c. Shall be used in accordance with all the manufacturer's safety requirements.

D. Burning on Streets.

1. No materials can be burned upon any street, curb, gutter, or sidewalk.

2. Yard waste and debris can be dropped off at the Stevens Point Public Works Drop Off Site, located at 100 Sixth Ave., in front of the City Garage.

E. Enforcement.

1. The Stevens Point Fire Department reserves the right to approve or disapprove any use of fire.

2. Any person who violates any provision of this section may be fined fifty dollars ($50.00) per occurrence as well as applicable court costs for a total of one hundred and eighty-one dollars ($181.00). Exact costs may be periodically changed by the court. Costs could also include any applicable state or federal fines or penalties. (Ordinance 6.07(1)).