Before You Burn Leaves in Michigan, Check These Rules

Fall in Michigan means football, cider, spectacular colors, and eventually standing in your yard wondering how one tree produced approximately 14 dump trucks' worth of leaves.

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So can you just pile them up and light them on fire? Welcome to Michigan, where the answer is maybe.

Pile of burnt trash and debris on the ground

According to the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE), open burning of leaves and grass clippings is prohibited in municipalities with populations of 7,500 or more, unless that community has specifically passed an ordinance allowing it.

For Michigan communities with fewer than 7,500 people, state law generally allows leaf burning unless a local ordinance says otherwise.

Check Before You Burn Those Michigan Leaves

There are, of course, more wrinkles to consider before tossing a match into a pile of lawn debris. State air-quality rules also restrict open burning of trees, logs, brush, and stumps within 1,400 feet of an incorporated city or village boundary. Your city, village, or township may have additional restrictions or require a burn permit.

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In other words, your neighbor saying it shouldn't be an issue and handing you a Bic lighter does not constitute legal advice.

bonfire

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) recommends that all state residents check their local ordinances before starting any outdoor fires. Northern Michigan and Upper Peninsula residents can check DNR burn-permit status online, while permits in much of southern Michigan are handled at the local level.

So before declaring war on that maple tree's leftovers, check the rules where you live. It could save you from turning fall cleanup into a conversation with the fire department.