Before you light a fire
Today's burning status for St. Joseph Charter Township, the township rules, and how to get a burn permit.
Two ordinances, and which one applies depends on where you live. St. Joseph Charter Township has its own rules, and so does the Village of Shoreham. They are not the same — Shoreham sets burning hours and a wind limit, and allows some yard rubbish the township does not. Today's burn status and our authority to order a fire out apply in both.
From Ordinance Chapter 14, Section 14-70.
No permit needed
Permit required
Never allowed
From the Village of Shoreham Burning Ordinance (2000).
Allowed
Allowed, with limits
Never allowed
Village fines start at $25 and rise for repeat offenses, plus the cost of putting the fire out. Village code enforcement, township police and our firefighters can all enforce it.
Open burning right now
Burning not recommended
Based on: NWS fire weather forecast
This status updates on its own throughout the day from our weather station at Station #1 and the National Weather Service. Check it right before you light a fire.
St. Joseph Charter Township
Burning not recommended
Ordinance Chapter 14, Section 14-70
Village of Shoreham
Burning not recommended
Village of Shoreham Burning Ordinance
Weather is the same across the district; the rules are not. Whichever applies to you, our advice above is the minimum — and a firefighter can still ask you to put a fire out.
| Status | When |
|---|---|
| No burning | The Fire Chief has ordered a burn ban, or the National Weather Service has issued a Red Flag Warning for our area. |
| Not recommended | A Fire Weather Watch is in effect, or wind is 10 mph or more, gusts reach 20 mph, or humidity is below 30%, measured at Station #1 or forecast for today, or lightning has struck within 10 miles in the last hour. |
| Burning OK | None of the above. Township rules still apply, and fires larger than 3 feet need a permit. |
| Sky | Cloudy. Showers and chance of thunderstorms until 1300, then showers likely and slight chance of thunderstorms. Chance of precipitation near 100 percent. |
|---|---|
| Lowest humidity | 80% |
| Wind | Northeast winds 5 to 10 mph. |
| Smoke dispersal | Marginal |
National Weather Service fire weather forecast, issued 2:31 AM Sep 20.
St. Joseph Charter Township, from Ordinance Section 14-70, Fires and burning. Village of Shoreham residents: your rules are in the Village Burning Ordinance, summarized above.
Leaves, trash, garbage, household or industrial refuse, tires, asphalt or fiberglass roofing, or wood that is treated, painted, stained or coated (including creosote, Wolmanized or pressure-treated wood). Burning these is prohibited in the township.
The Fire Chief may order any fire put out when high wind or other conditions make it a hazard.
In the township, any fire larger than 3 feet requires a burn permit issued by the Fire Chief or the Chief's designee.
In the Village of Shoreham, the village ordinance has no burn permit — but burning on a Sunday needs a special use permit from the Village Council, and the hours and wind limits above always apply.
More seasonal advice is on our Fire Safety page.
