During the last Dell Rapids City Council meeting held on Monday, September 15th, the City Council approved the second reading and adoption of Ordinance 806 – Permitted Open Burning.
As long as Minnehaha County has not instituted a county-wide burn ban, residents are allowed to have the following types of open burning:
- Only charcoal and untreated, unpainted, clean, dry wood and manufactured fire logs less than two feet in length may be burned.
- The must not be on a wood or wood composite surface and must be contained in a pit, ring or manufactured fire pit or chiminea, or outdoor fireplace.
- Fire pits and rings must be located at least five feet away from structures and combustible materials, must be no more than 18 inches in depth from ground level and must be a minimum of five feet from adjoining property lines.
- Manufactured freestanding fire pits and chimineas must be located at least five feet from structures and combustible materials and a minimum of five feet from adjoining property lines.
- All recreational fires must be supervised at all times until the fire has been completely extinguished.
Officials from the Minnehaha County Sheriff’s Department, City’s Code Enforcement Officer, and local fire department are authorized to extinguish any open burning if it’s determined to not be in compliance. Law enforcement officers or the City’s Code Enforcement Officer is authorized to issue citations for violation of the ordinance.
A minimum of a $100 fine will be issued for the first violation, $150 for the second violation, and $200 for the third and subsequent violations within a year.
The motion was made by Lee Burggraff to approve and adopt the new ordinance. The motion was seconded by Gary Haak. The motion passed unanimously.