Burn Permits/Permiso de Quema

Recreational fires do not require a burn permit, however, they must have a total fuel area of 3 feet or less in diameter, and 2 feet or less in height, and be used for pleasure, religious, ceremonial, cooking, warmth, or similar purpose.

Any other open burning must have a burn permit, which can be obtained at the City Clerk’s Office at City Hall, 10 N. Division St. Call 269-966-3348 with questions, or for more information.

Please see the following regulations for burning:

1. All burning must be immediately extinguished upon the request of the Fire Department, if they receive smoke or odor complaints from neighbors.

2. The permit is valid only at the location specified on the permit, and only until Dec. 31 of the year the city issues the permit.

3. The cost of the permit is non-refundable. There are no exceptions to the refund policy, even if all fires are ordered to be extinguished, due to complaints, or if no burning takes place.

4. The permit holder must show a copy of the permit to police or fire personnel investigating complaints about smoke.

5. The permit holder must have the property owner’s permission at the burning location.

6. Burning authorized under the permit may be suspended by decision of the fire chief and fire marshal, due to weather conditions.

7. A person age 16 or older must be present in the burning location. Do not leave a fire unattended.

8. Contents of fires allowed under the permit shall be limited to landscape waste defined as twigs and branches, or brush no larger than 2 inches in diameter. You may not burn leaves or grass clippings.

9. You may not burn rubber, plastic, garbage, leather, building construction materials, petroleum products, any painted item, or any flammable or combustible liquids.

10. All burning shall be at least 50 feet from a building, and is not allowed in the public right-of-way.

11. The size of fires shall be limited to piles three feet in height and eight feet in diameter.

12. The permit holder shall take all reasonable actions to see that the fire does not spread.

13. Burning is allowed only after sunrise, until a half-hour before sunset.

14. The permit holder agrees that all damages caused to life and property by burning under the permit is the total responsibility of the permit holder, and further agrees to hold the City of Battle Creek blameless for any such damages.

15. Failure to follow any of the rules listed above is a civil infraction. The penalty for violating a rule is a $50 fine for the first offense, $100 fine for the second offense and $200 fine for the third offense.

To receive a permit, you must apply at the City Clerk’s Office, between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.

The current fee is $25 and is payable in person only, by cash, check, or credit card. Please note that there is an added fee for credit card payment.

Please note: Those in the City of Battle Creek limits can bag leaves in paper bags (no plastic) and place them at the curb for pickup by Waste Management on your regular pickup day, from late March until late November. You can also haul them to Brice Pit, the city’s compost site (715 W. River Road). Regular hours are 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday. If you mow your leaves, please do not mow them into the street or into storm drain inlets.