Burning Permits

Burning  Summary
See actual Burning Ordinance below this section

For Residents in the Eaton Rapids Township Fire Department Area

No person shall within the limits of Eaton Rapids Township start or have an open fire except for domestic purposes and to protect persons or property in case of fire, without permission of the Township Fire Chief or his/her authorized representative. Remember to call in and get a Burning Permit at 663-3955. If you do not have a permit and the Department gets called out, you could be charged a fine or penalty of not less than $500.00 or more than $1,000.00. 

Types of Open Burning Not Allowed

1. No burning of any kind at Commercial and Industrial sites.
2. Open burning of automobiles or parts thereof including tires.
3. Flammable liquids, toxic or explosive materials.
4. The open burning of building demolition material or the burning of excess construction material.
5. The open burning of garbage, refuse even in a burning barrel, animal carcasses, animal wastes or any material giving off foul odors.
6. Any materials that give off black smoke, toxic or harmful by-products are not to be burned          

Types of Open Burning Allowed

1. The burning of yard trimmings, leaves, and debris from trees and brush.
2. Burning of trees, logs, brush and stumps at land clearing operations. Logs no larger than 6 inches in diameter.
3. Fires set for the purpose of clearing grass from ditch or fence areas, or the like with Chiefs inspection and permission given first.
4. Fires purposely set to agricultural lands for disease and pest control and other accepted agricultural and wildlife management practices with Chiefs inspection and permission given first.
5. Camp fires and fires used for outdoor cooking and other recreational purposes or ceremonial occasions.

Incinerators (Domestic Fires)

Incinerators:  Domestic Fires: A “Domestic Fire” is any fire around the home or within the curtilage of the dwelling. No person shall set or cause to be set, burn or cause to be burned, any paper trash, or rubbish, on said premises, unless confined within a fire proof container. The open burning of garbage, animal carcasses, refuse, animal wastes or any material giving off foul odors is not allowed even in a fire proof container.

Fire Proof Containers for Domestic Fires

1. Debris burner constructed of metal (55 gallon barrel) or masonry with an approved spark arrestor with openings no larger ¾ of an inch.

Location and Restricted Hours of Burning

1.      The location of any open burning is not less than 50 feet from any structure.

2.      Burning containers shall not be located less than fifteen (15’) feet from any building or less than five (5’) feet from adjoining property line.

3.      Clearance between burning containers and combustibles:  A minimum clearance of ten (10’) feet shall be maintained between burning containers and all rubbish, weeds, vegetation and any other combustible material.

4.      Hours of Open Burning: all open burning shall be done within the hours of sunrise and sunset with the exception of Agricultural and land clearing operation with the Chiefs approval, and camp fires,

5.      Any open burning shall be constantly attended by a competent person until such fire is extinguished.  This person shall have a garden hose connected to the water supply, or other fire extinguishing equipment readily available for use.

Remember to keep all fires small in size, and to keep your water hose handy 
at all times.   

This is a summary of Ordinance 13A revised January 4, 2007 by the Eaton 
Rapids Township Board

ORDINANCE NO. 13A

EATON RAPIDS TOWNSHIP BURNING ORDINANCE

REVISED January 4, 2007

SECTION I

To regulate and promote the general peace, safety and welfare of the public by providing for the control of fires, the burning of grass, debris, trash and rubbish, to provide for the obtaining of permits before undertaking open burning; to provide for the hours of open burning; and to provide penalties for the violations of the terms thereof.

SECTION II

No person shall within the limits of Eaton Rapids Township or any areas 
under contract coverage of the Eaton Rapids Township or any areas under contract coverage of the Eaton Rapids Township Fire Department shall set 
or cause to be set, burn or cause to be burned, at any time, any building, 
debris  from any building, building materials of any kind this includes 
building construction sites (new house sites etc.), brush, grass, trees on 
any lot or parcel of ground within the Township of Eaton Rapids or its 
contracted fire coverage area  unless such persons shall first obtain from 
the Fire Chief of  the Eaton Rapids Township Fire Department or his/her authorized representative, a permit for such open burning.

SECTION III

LOCATION RESTRICTED:  No person shall burn or maintain any fire or authorize any such fire to be kindled or maintained on any private land unless:

1.      The location of any open burning is not less than 50 feet from any structure.

2.      Burning containers shall not be located less than fifteen (15’) feet from any building or less than five (5’) feet from adjoining property line.

Any open burning shall be constantly attended by a competent 
person until such fire is extinguished. This person shall have a garden 
hose connected to the water supply, or other fire extinguishing equipment
readily available for use.

The Fire Chief may prohibit any and all open burning of outdoor fires when atmospheric conditions or local circumstances make such fires hazardous.

SECTION IV

INCINERATORS:  DOMESTIC FIRES:  A “Domestic Fire” is any fire around the home or within the curtilage of the dwelling. No person shall set or cause to be set, burn or cause to be burned, any paper trash, or rubbish, on said premises, unless confined within a fire proof container with openings no larger than three-fourths of an inch. Burning containers shall not be located less than fifteen (15’) feet from any building or less than five (5’) feet from adjoining property line. Clearance between burning containers and combustibles: A minimum clearance of ten (10’) feet shall be maintained between burning containers and all rubbish, weeds, vegetation and any other combustible material. No burning of any kind on commercial or industrial property. No building materials of any kind this includes building construction sites (new house ect.)

SECTION V

HOURS OF OPEN BURNING:  With the exception of agricultural, land clearing operation, and camp fires, all open burning shall be done within the hours of sunrise and sunset.

Permits to burn for agricultural and land clearing purposes must first have approval of the Fire Chief or his/her representative by an on site inspection before issuance of a permit

SECTION VI

Any person, partnership, firm, association or corporation, or clerk or agent thereof, who shall set or start an open fire without a permit as required by this ordinance shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and shall upon conviction thereof be subject to a fine or penalty of not less than $500.00 or more than $1,000.00, or by imprisonment in the Eaton County Jail not exceeding 30 days, or both such fine and imprisonment.

Any person, partnership, firm, association or corporation who violates or fails to comply with any provision of this ordinance or who sets an open fire which necessitates calling the Eaton Rapids Township Fire Department, or any other Fire Department, shall pay to Eaton Rapids Township all costs and charges incurred by said Township by reason of calling the Eaton Rapids Township Fire Department or any other Fire Department. Eaton Rapids Township may sue in any court of competent jurisdiction for civil damages and may recover such costs and expenses incurred by them from any person partnership, firm, association or corporation who sets such open fire.