Open Burning in Ferndale

The process of applying for your annual burn permit, paying the fee, and scheduling the inspection are now all online! Review the information below and submit your application.

The City of Ferndale's Open Burning Ordinance allows for backyard fires with a permit. Permits:

• Are issued annually following a permit application process
• Cost $25 annually
• Are nontransferable for persons or property

Disclaimer: Applicants should ensure required conditions can be met before completing the permit application. Processed permit fees will not be returned to applicants unable to satisfy requirements.

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Required Conditions Checklist:

• The property in which the applicant intends to conduct open burning must be the applicant’s primary residence.
• The applicant must be over 18 years old.
• The edge of the burning device is not within 15 feet of any combustible structures on the property. Combustible structures include but are not limited to houses, garages, wooden fences, wooden play structures, decks, etc.
• The edge of the burning device is not within 20 feet of any combustible structures on a neighbor’s property.

Renters MUST have a signed letter of consent from the property owner for open burning on the property before applying. This will be a required attachment to the application.

Applicants who are confident they can meet the required conditions for an open burning permit can begin the application process by clicking here. The online system will take you through the application process. Once the application is submitted, multiple emails will be sent to complete the online payment and schedule the required inspection. The permit will be issued electronically to the applicant after payment is processed. Failure to schedule an inspection or inability to satisfy required conditions as determined by inspection will result in the permit being revoked.

The online application process can be completed in less than 5 minutes.

For additional questions, please contact:
Ferndale Fire Marshal
248-546-2510

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Permit Rules

• The patio wood-burning unit or campfire shall not be used to burn refuse.
• The patio wood-burning unit or campfire shall only burn clean tree wood.
• The patio wood-burning unit or campfire shall be located at least 20 feet from the nearest structure which is not on the same property as the patio wood-burning unit, and at least 15 feet from the nearest structure on the same property as the patio wood-burning unit.
• The patio wood-burning unit or campfire shall not cause a nuisance to neighbors.
• Operational hours for any patio wood-burning unit or campfire shall be limited to the time between 11:00 a.m. and 1:00 a.m.
• All fires shall be supervised by at least one person who is 18 years of age or older.
• There shall be at minimum a garden hose connected to a reliable water supply, a 1-gallon bucket of water, or a 2a10BC rated fire extinguisher with 20 feet of any open burning.