Burning Permits

Outdoor Burning

The City of White Bear Lake provides fire codes and governance over outdoor burning. Permits are required before burning brush and tree trimmings within the City of White Bear Lake.  Please allow 24-48 hours advance notice. Please review the open burning rules below before applying for your burning permit.

Open Burning Rules

Permit - The person attending to the fire shall submit the burning permit application. Both the attendee and the permit shall remain on site of the open burn at all times.

Notification - Prior to burning, attendee must notify the White Bear Lake Fire Department 651-429-8568. Attendee must also check the DNR website for active burning bans.

Prohibited Material - Open burning of lumber, pallets, wooden shingles, scrap wood, yard waste, cardboard, garbage, treated or painted wood, plastic, rubber and other similar items is not permitted.

Location - Burning shall not occur within 50 feet of any structure and provisions must be made to prevent fire from spreading to within 50 feet of structures.

Prohibited Open Burning - Open burning that is offensive or objectionable due to smoke or odor emissions may be shut down by a fire official.

Means of Ignition - Permitted fires may be ignited using an open flame, paper and/or kindling. The use of fuel oil, gasoline or similar flammable/combustible liquid is prohibited.

Extinguishing Equipment - A water source is required for all open burning permits unless permitee has heavy equipment to extinguish the fire.

Wind Condition - Winds must be less than 10 miles per hour.

Permit Revocation - The White Bear Lake Fire Department shall have the power and duty to enforce these rules and are required to extinguish any burn that is not in compliance with the burning permit.

To learn more, please refer to the Outdoor Burning Regulations under the Fire Regulations section of the City's Municipal Code. If you have any questions, please call the Fire Department at 651-429-8568.

Please complete this webform to apply for an outdoor burning permit. Open burning permits (non-recreational fires) cost $75.00.  Or if you prefer, print complete and return a paper application to the Fire Department, 4701 Highway 61, White Bear Lake, MN  55110.

Please call 651-429-8568 if you have any questions.

Recreation Fire

Recreational fires are allowed in residential areas without a permit as long as the rules are observed.  Please click on "Read more" for the recreational fire rules.