Burning Permits

Open Burning / Burning Permits are issued for piled materials such as trees and brush. For burning permits within the city limits of Grand Rapids, you must contact Fire Department personnel. Please call and leave a voicemail message.  A Fire Department officer will return your call as soon as they can. 

Burning of leaves is prohibited.; Notwithstanding the provisions of Minn. Stat. §§ 88.16, 88.17, and 88.22, the open burning of dried leaves is hereby prohibited.

The city has determined that the burning of leaves is an ineffective means to dispose of leaves. As well, this practice has been determined to be contrary to the health, safety, welfare, and morals of the community.

The city has available a practical alternative to the burning of leaves as a means of disposal. The city has and maintains a community compost pile, free of charge, to city residents as a way to dispose of leaves. The city believes this to be a more fitting way in which to dispose of leaves. Additionally, the city through its contracted waste disposal vendor provides the free pick up and removal of vegetative material twice yearly.

Campfires do not require a permit, but must be contained, attended to, and extinguished before leaving and no larger than three (3) feet in diameter.

The following materials are prohibited and cannot be burned.

• Tires, rubber, or rubber products
• Chemically treated lumber
• Railroad ties, telephone poles
• Plastic pesticide or herbicide containers
• Plastic liners in seed, feed, or pesticide bags
• Plastic containers such as milk, motor oil, household, or other plastic containers
• Tar paper, shingles, or other asphalt materials
• Insulation
• Composition board or sheetrock
• Wiring, insulation on wiring or cable
• Hazardous waste (including household hazardous waste)
• Commercial or institutional structures
• Paint or paint filters
• Used motor oil or other petroleum-based liquids
• Vehicles, motors or parts of vehicles, or motors

Violations of permit conditions may be subject to criminal and/or civil action.