Michigan Burn Permit Changes: How to Check If Burning Is Allowed

If you’re planning to burn leaves or brush this spring or summer, Michigan just made it a little easier to figure out if you actually can.

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources updated its burn permit page, and honestly, it needed it. The old clickable map is gone, replaced with simple dropdown menus. You just pick your county, and it tells you if burning is allowed that day.

How to Check If Burning Is Allowed in Michigan Now

It’s pretty simple now. Pick your county from the dropdown, and you’ll see a list of townships underneath with that day’s rules, restrictions, or contact info.

On your desktop, the dropdown is on the right side. On your phone, tap “Can I burn today?” and scroll down.

You can also call 866-922-BURN.

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Who Actually Needs a Burn Permit in Michigan

Here’s where a lot of people get tripped up…not everyone in Michigan even goes through the DNR for this. Honestly, I didn’t know that either.

If you’re in the Upper Peninsula or parts of the northern Lower Peninsula, you can use the state’s system. But if you’re in southern Michigan, you’ll need to check with your local fire department or township. The DNR doesn’t issue permits down here.

Before You Burn, Here’s What Michigan Wants You to Know

The DNR says people cause 90 percent of wildfires in Michigan, and a lot of that comes from yard burns getting out of control.

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And you know how this goes…things dry out fast once summer hits. So this is really about being proactive and making it easier for people to check before they light anything.

At the end of the day, just use some common sense. And yeah, this includes you smokers…stop throwing your cigarette butts out the window.

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So, who do you call? If you hit one of these animals, you’ll want to contact the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) or local law enforcement. If it’s an actual emergency, call 911; otherwise, just dial the non-emergency number. They’ll handle the situation and make sure everything's squared away. Just don’t forget to report it.

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