Burn bans in Iowa

No county-level burn ban is currently reported by Iowa State Fire Marshal Division for Iowa. Municipal rules within a county may still apply.

Iowa centralises the decision more than any other state we track: under Iowa Code § 100.40 only the State Fire Marshal can prohibit open burning, and only at the request of a local fire chief, a city council, or a county board of supervisors, after an investigation supports it. The prohibition takes effect as a written proclamation to the affected area.

Bans are issued by county officials and typically stay in effect until conditions improve or the order expires. Some counties set explicit expiration dates; others leave a ban open-ended until lifted. Check each county's page for the expiration listed on the current order.

Violating a burn-ban proclamation issued under Iowa Code § 100.40 is a simple misdemeanor. Anyone whose fire escapes can also be held responsible for suppression and damage costs.