The City of South Lyon has a burning ordinance. Below are some highlights.

The burning ordinance does not apply to the following.

• Grilling or cooking food using charcoal, wood, propane or natural gas in cooking or grilling appliances.
• Burning for the purpose of generating heat in a stove, furnace, fireplace or other heating device within a building used for human or animal habitation.
• Use of propane, acetylene, natural gas, gasoline or kerosene in a device intended for heating, construction or maintenance activities.

The following items are prohibited.

• Open burning.
• Recreational fires or fires in portable / fixed outdoor fireplaces that are offensive or objectionable because of smoke emissions or when atmospheric conditions or local circumstances make such fires hazardous..
• Burning of refuse.
• Burning of leaves, grass clippings, or both.

Attendance.

• All outdoor burning e.g. recreational fires and use of portable / fixed outdoor fireplaces shall be constantly attended until the fire is extinguished. A minimum of one portable fire extinguisher complying with a minimum 4-A rating or other approved on-site fire-extinguishing equipment, such as dirt, sand, water barrel, garden hose or water truck, shall be available for immediate utilization.

Recreation Fires.

• Recreational fires shall not be conducted within 25 feet of a structure or combustible material. Conditions which could cause a fire to spread within 25 feet of a structure shall be eliminated prior to ignition.

Portable / Fixed Outdoor Fireplace.

• Portable / fixed outdoor fireplaces shall be used in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions and shall not be operated within 15 feet of a structure or combustible material.
• Exception: Portable / fixed outdoor fireplaces used at one- and two-family dwellings.

Right of entry and inspection.

• The fire chief or any authorized officer, agent, employee or representative of the City of South Lyon who presents credentials may inspect any property for the purpose of ascertaining compliance with the provisions of this ordinance.

Enforcement and penalties.

• The fire chief, police chief, and/or their designees are authorized to enforce the provisions of this ordinance.
• Any person, firm, association, partnership, corporation, or governmental entity who violates any of the provisions of this ordinance or fails to comply with a duly authorized order issued pursuant to this ordinance shall be deemed to be responsible for a municipal civil infraction as defined by Michigan Statute which shall be punishable by civil fine determined in accordance with the schedule outlined in Code of Ordinances.