Burning Permits

McFarland, Wisconsin Fire and Rescue PatchWe are issuing burn permits for the Village of McFarland, but are requesting residents to use the Village's brush and yard waste collection site instead of burning when possible. Burning leaves and grass is not permitted.

Town of Dunn residents - please refer to the Town of Dunn Ordinance on burning.

Town of Pleasant Springs residents - please refer to the Town of Pleasant Springs Emergency Service website regarding burning, found at the bottom of the page.

Spring and fall are times for many people to clean out gardens, rake leaves, prune trees and trim bushes. Although the Village of McFarland collects leaves and brush (see Brush Chipping and Yard Waste Collection for details), some residents may want to burn brush waste. Open burning is not permitted in the Village of McFarland without a burning permit.

Burnable Materials

  • Untreated wood (brush)
  • Vegetation for environmental management (field, prairie, etc.)

Restrictions & Acknowledgments

  • Building material, rubbish, leaves, and loose grass or clippings may not be burned.
  • A responsible adult must attend the fire at all times.
  • The adult must have a hose or other means of water supply available at the fire site.
  • The permit holder is responsible for any damage if the fire becomes out of control.
  • This permit may be voided by the Fire and Rescue Chief or his designee at any time.
  • Burning should not cause smoke to become a nuisance.
  • The permit holder is responsible to check conditions on the day of burning on the Department of Natural Resources Burning Restrictions page or by calling the Department of Natural Resources Burn Hotline at 888-947-2876. Burning is not allowed when the risk is high, very high or extreme. This website is updated daily at 11 am.
  • Burning may only take place between sunrise and sunset, only on the 2nd and 4th weekends (Saturday and Sunday) of each month.

Obtaining a Permit

  • Burning permits may be obtained, free of charge, from the Village of McFarland Administrative Office at the McFarland Municipal Center at 5915 Milwaukee Street, Monday through Friday from 8 am to 4:30 pm.
  • The McFarland Resident Burning Permit Application may be completed online and submitted electronically.
  • Interested parties may also contact the Fire and Rescue Department at 608-838-3278 for additional information.

Safety Reminders

  • Please do not use accelerants such as gasoline to start or escalate burning, this is very dangerous and can severely injure someone and change a person's life forever
  • Permitted fires must be attended to prevent the fire from spreading to undesired areas. Attending a fire means a physical presence with a means to extinguish the fire, such as a garden hose.
  • Care should be taken regarding the direction of smoke travel and not create a nuisance for neighbors.
  • In the event of unsafe burning conditions (high winds, dry conditions, or any other hazards), burning will be suspended.

2023 Burning Schedule

2nd Weekend

  • January 14 and 15
  • February 11 and 12
  • March 11 and 12
  • April 8 and 9
  • May 13 and 14
  • June 10 and 11
  • July 8 and 9
  • August 12 and 13
  • September 9 and 10
  • October 14 and 15
  • November 11 and 12
  • December 9 and 10

4th Weekend

  • January 28 and 29
  • February 25 and 26
  • March 25 and 26
  • April 22 and 23
  • May 27 and 28
  • June 24 and 25
  • July 22 and 23
  • August 26 and 27
  • September 23 and 24
  • October 28 and 29
  • November 25 and 26
  • December 23 and 24