Burning Permits

DeWitt Charter Township allows open burning through a permit process. The permit must be obtained prior to any initial burning. Permits are available online, as well as at both fire stations and the Township Hall Clerk's Office.

Types of Permits

There are two categories of open burning permits: year-round and seasonal. Year-round permits are issued to owners of property that is zoned Agricultural with 2 acres or more. Seasonal permits are issued to property owners in areas zoned Agricultural with less than 2 acres or zoned Residential with the following zoning designations: R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4, and R-5. Residents with seasonal permits may open burn from October 1 through April 30.

Prohibitions & Other Restrictions

• Open burning and recreational fires are prohibited in R-6 Subdivisions. These Subdivisions are the Looking Glass Pines, Looking Glass Pines North, Northway Hills, and Shadybrook Condos. This is due to the significant risk of fire spread and other fire hazards based on the density of housing.
• Open burning is permitted from sunrise to sunset. The only items allowed to be burned are brush (tree limbs, branches, twigs, yard debris) and leaves. All other materials are prohibited. The approved size of an open burn pile is 5 feet by 5 feet by 3 feet and must be at least 50 feet from any structure.
• Recreational fires are allowed year-round, and no permit is required. A recreational fire is defined as an outdoor fire which has a total fuel area of 3 feet or less in diameter, and 2 feet or less in height for pleasure, cooking, warmth, or similar purposes. Recreational fires are to be contained to limit the spread of fire by using a fire pit, chimenea, fire ring, stones, etc., and be located at least 25 feet from any structure.
• All fires must be attended at all times by an adult and must be completely extinguished when not attended. If the wind velocity rises above 10 miles per hour, all burning is prohibited.