Bloomington, Minn., Code of Ordinances § 6 § 6.12
EXCEPTIONS TO OPEN BURNING PROHIBITION (Bloomington Fire Prevention Code)
Operative Text
The following types of open burning are exempt from the prohibition in § 6.11 : (a) Recreational fires with all the following conditions: (1) Stacked size of firewood shall not exceed three feet in diameter by two feet in height; (2) Fires shall be located at least 25 feet from any structures or combustible materials; (3) Only firewood shall be used; (4) Fire extinguishing equipment such as buckets, shovels, garden hoses, or a fire extinguisher with a minimum 4-A rating shall be readily available; (5) Fires shall be constantly attended by a person within sight of the flames until the fire burns out completely or is extinguished; (6) Fires may only be conducted between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 12:00 a.m. (midnight); (7) Sustained winds must be less than ten mph as measured by Police Dispatch; and (8) A recreational fire will be immediately discontinued if the Fire Chief , Fire Marshal , responding police officer, or designee determines the fire is creating a fire safety hazard. (b) Fires under managed supervision for which a burning permit has been obtained from the Fire Marshal and, where required by state law from the Department of Natural Resources, but limited to the following: (1) Fires purposely set for the instruction and training of public and industrial firefighting personnel; (2) Fires set for the elimination of a fire hazard which cannot be abated by any other practicable means; (3) Fires purposely set for forest, prairie, and game management purposes; and (4) The burning of trees, brush, grass, and other vegetative material in the clearing of land, the maintenance of a street, road, or highway right-of-way, and in accepted agricultural land management practices, provided that all conditions placed on the permit by the Fire Marshal are met. (c) Exceptions to conduct fires under this section does not excuse a person from the consequences, damages, or injuries which may result therefrom, nor does it exempt any person from regulations promulgated by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency or any other governmental unit exercising jurisdiction in matters of pollution or fire hazard regulation. (Ord. 2023-6 , passed 3-20-2023)
Bloomington, Minn., Code of Ordinances § 6.12 carves out two categories of open burning that are otherwise prohibited under § 6.11. Recreational fires are allowed when specific conditions are met, including size limits, distance from structures, fuel type, supervision, time of day, and wind speed. Permitted fires under managed supervision—such as training exercises or land clearing—may also be conducted with prior approval from the Fire Marshal. In either case, the exemption does not shield anyone from liability for resulting damages or from state pollution and fire-hazard regulations.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and managers in Bloomington should be aware that § 6.12 sets strict operational requirements for any recreational fire on their property. A compliant operator ensures that fires use only firewood within the stated size limits, are kept at least 25 feet from structures, are attended at all times, and are conducted between 7:00 a.m. and midnight when winds are below ten mph. Operators also keep appropriate fire-extinguishing equipment on hand and comply immediately with any order to discontinue a fire from the Fire Chief, Fire Marshal, or responding officer.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Tenants in Bloomington who wish to hold a recreational fire should understand that § 6.12 establishes specific conditions that must be met for such fires to be lawful. If a landlord's rules or property conditions make it impossible to satisfy those requirements—such as maintaining the required 25-foot clearance—tenants may want to review their lease terms and consult a tenant-rights organization for guidance. Tenants who believe a fire on their property is being conducted unsafely may contact the Bloomington Fire Marshal or local police, as § 6.12 authorizes those officials to order immediate discontinuation of hazardous fires.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated September 15, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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