Burning Permits

Welcome to the Online Burning Permit System

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is pleased to offer annual burning permits online for a five-dollar fee. Online permits are valid for the calendar year and must be activated each day burning occurs. Permits to burn more than three piles, piles larger than 20' x 20' in size or an area more than one acre, will need a variance permit from a local DNR Forestry office.

Note: You may not conduct your burn until you have activated your permit. You may activate on-line during your application process, or by calling 1-866-533-BURN (2876). Activation will only be possible if burning conditions are favorable to allow open burning; you will receive an activation code that you must write on your permit in the space provided.

  • You must be the landowner or have written permission of the landowner to burn at the burn site location.
  • Information about the type of burn (piled material, grass field, garden plot, etc.)
  • Location of the burn, either an address (E-911 compatible) or the legal description (available on your property tax statement)
  • Credit/Debit card (Mastercard or Visa)
  • Printer - to print your completed permit (you must have printed and signed permit with you while conducting your burning operation)
  • You will need a valid email address for an account. An email account is required by the banking system to process your credit card payment. In addition, the email account will allow you to reprint a permit at a later date if it is misplaced or destroyed and will save entry time in the future as much of the information you need to enter will be saved in the system.