Burn Permits

No open burning shall be permitted within the City of Milan without a permit, except:

• Fire used for cooking of food, ceremonial or recreational purposes, including barbecues, campfires and outdoor fireplaces or fire pits.
• Fires set for the training and instruction of public or private firefighting personnel.
• Fires set by or the direction of responsible fire control agencies for the prevention, elimination or reduction of a hazard.

To obtain a permit the applicant shall obtain a burn permit from the fire department no more than twenty-four (24) hours before the fire and it shall list:

• The type of material to be burned
• The location of the fire
• Who is responsible for controlling the fire

Open burning may be conducted subject to the following limitations with a valid burning permit, issued by the City of Milan at no charge:

1. To clear land of brush/wood grown on that land where the land is being maintained for the following purposes:
   • Establish private residences, consisting of one (1) or two (2) dwelling units;
   • Establish church congregational properties;
   • New site development projects;
   • Agriculture development.
   
   NOTE: Before clearing brush/wood for development the responsible party must notify the fire department to determine the proper site and method for burning.
    
2. All such permits shall be available for inspection throughout the period of time the permit is issued and the open burning is in progress.
3. All open burning shall be between the hours of 8:00 A.M. and 3:30 P.M. or as authorized by the fire department. All signs of open burning shall be non-existent in the air no later than 4:30 P.M.
   
   NOTE: Materials may not be burned in piles exceeding one hundred forty-four (144) cubic feet, except as designated on new site development projects. (as added by Ord. #09-01, May 2009)

Open burning cannot be located closer than fifty feet (50’) to any structure. Burning may not be located closer than one hundred feet (100’) to any wooded land.

Bon Fires may be allowed, with written approval from the Fire Chief.

Limitations on bon fires: 

• Not to exceed five feet (5’) in height and six feet (6’) in diameter.
• Must be supervised by a person twenty-one (21) or older.
• Notify the fire department at least three (3) days in advance to ignition of bon fire

It shall be unlawful to burn any of the following:

• Tire and rubber products
• Vinyl siding and shingles
• Asphalt shingles and other asphalt roofing materials
• Houses and Mobile Homes
• Plywood, oriented strand board (OSB) and treated wood, including railroad ties
• Asbestos-containing materials
• Aerosol cans and food cans
• Copper wire and electrical wires
• Plastics and other synthetic materials
• Paper products, cardboard and newspapers
• Household trash
• Leaves, evergreen needles and grasses
• Branches and trees not grown on site
• Left over stumps

If you have any questions regarding the City of Milan Burn Policy you may contact the Milan Fire Department at (731)686-0441. Or download the Policy here.