Chesterfield Fire Department
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Request an Open Burn Permit

How Do I

Open burning of brush, branches, leaves and yard clippings needs a permit, and is only allowed in spring and autumn.

All open burning in Chesterfield Township must be conducted in a safe, nuisance free manner with a permit issued by the Chesterfield Township Fire Department.

Burning of brush, tree stumps, branches, yard clippings, leaves and grass clippings may be allowed between April 1 and May 21, and from October 1 to November 22 each year, after a permit has been secured. Burning may only be conducted during daylight hours and must be completely extinguished before sunset.

Campfires do not require a permit, but must be no larger than four feet wide by four feet deep by four feet tall. Burning for heating, construction or outside maintenance, and small clean wood fires confined to a metal container used by licensed contractors, are permitted.

Step by Step

  1. Check the dates

    Permits cover April 1 to May 21 and October 1 to November 22. Outside those windows, open burning is not allowed.

  2. Request your permit online

    Complete the online request form below for a burn date during a burn season. Your permit is emailed to you and is valid only for the date you choose. You can also call (586) 725-2233.

  3. Check the wind

    If wind speeds exceed 15mph, call to confirm open burning is still allowed, even if you already hold a permit.

  4. Set up safely

    Keep the fire at least 50 feet from the nearest building, and make sure it is constantly attended and supervised by a competent person at least 18 years of age.

  5. Put it out before sunset

    Burning is daylight hours only and must be completely extinguished before sunset.

Online Request

Open Burn Permit Request

By completing this form, you request authorization to start, or cause to be started, a fire on land under your control at the address given. Permits are valid only for the date requested.

Open Burning Rules

What You Need To Know

What you may not burn

Construction and demolition materials. Hazardous substances including batteries, household chemicals, pesticides, used oil, gasoline, paints, varnishes and solvents. Furniture and appliances. Any plastic material including nylon, PVC, ABS, polystyrene, urethane foam, synthetic fabrics, plastic films and plastic containers. Treated or painted wood including plywood, composite wood products and wood treated with preservatives.

Where you may not burn

Not in or upon any street, curb, gutter, sidewalk or ditch. Not within 1,000 feet of any school while school is in session. Not within 1,400 feet of the Village of New Haven or the City of New Baltimore. Burning must not create a health hazard or a visibility hazard on roadways, railways or airfields.

Your responsibility

All permit holders are fully responsible for containing the burn, and assume any civil or criminal liability resulting from a failure to contain it. If burning violates any of these rules, the permit may be revoked by the Fire Chief or a designee until compliance can be demonstrated. Permits are only valid for the date requested on the permit; subsequent burning without a permit is a violation of these rules.

Penalties

Violating the ordinance is punishable on conviction by a fine and costs of prosecution, imprisonment for up to 90 days, or both. Each act of violation, and every day a violation occurs, is a separate offense. Anyone igniting an open fire that causes a fire department to respond must reimburse the cost of that response, and civil proceedings may be brought to recover it.

Help with the form

Residents served by the Chesterfield Township Fire Department who have questions or need assistance filling out the form should call the fire department at (586) 725-2233.

The ordinance

Recent amendments to the Chesterfield Township open burning ordinance are published by the township.

Open

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a permit for a campfire?

No. Campfires do not require a permit, but must be no larger than four feet wide by four feet deep by four feet tall.

Can I burn on a windy day?

If wind speeds exceed 15mph, call the fire department to confirm burning is still allowed, even if you hold a permit.

Why is the online form unavailable today?

The online request form is switched off automatically when weather conditions exceed the limits for open burning: when sustained winds or gusts are above 15 mph, or when the National Weather Service has a Red Flag Warning or similar fire-weather or high-wind alert in effect for our area. The website checks the conditions reported at Selfridge Air National Guard Base every five minutes, and the form reopens on its own when conditions improve. It is also unavailable outside the two burn seasons and during a burn ban.

How far from my house does the fire need to be?

At least 50 feet from the nearest building.

Can I burn construction scrap?

No. Construction and demolition materials, treated or painted wood, plastics, furniture, appliances and hazardous substances may never be burned.