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Tree waste rules in Iowa: open burning of trees, tree trimmings and landscape waste

What rule 567-23.2 of the Iowa Administrative Code and the Iowa Department of Natural Resources say about burning trees and tree trimmings, landscape waste from clearing, the eleven cities where the exemptions do not apply and the materials that may never be burned.

Checked against the sources at the bottom of this page on October 8, 2026. Rules, fees and pay change: the source has the last word.

This page reports what the official source says. It is not legal advice: ask the office named here. It follows rule 567-23.2 of the Iowa Administrative Code as published by the Iowa Legislature, the Iowa Department of Natural Resources open burning page, and the department's open burning brochure, which is marked revised January 2018.

The general rule and its definitions

According to rule 567-23.2, no person shall allow, cause or permit open burning of combustible materials except as the rule's exemptions or a variance allow. The rule defines landscape waste as any vegetable or plant wastes except garbage, including trees, tree trimmings, branches, stumps, brush, weeds, leaves, grass, shrubbery and yard trimmings. It defines trade waste as refuse from any trade, business, industry or commercial venture, including farming and utility or service activity. Residential waste is refuse generated on the premises from residential activities, including landscape waste grown on the premises, and the rule allows backyard burning of it at dwellings of four-family units or fewer.

Exemptions for trees and landscape waste

  • Trees and tree trimmings that did not originate on the premises may be burned at a site operated by a local governmental entity, if the site is fenced with controlled access, burning is regularly scheduled and supervised at all times, weather is favorable, and the site is at least one quarter mile from any inhabited building unless the owner of that building signs a recorded waiver. Rubber tires are not used to ignite the burn.
  • Landscape waste originating on the premises may be burned. Landscape waste produced in clearing, grubbing and construction operations is limited to areas at least one quarter mile from any building inhabited by anyone other than the landowner or tenant doing the burning.
  • Recreational fires for cooking, heating, recreation and ceremonies are exempt.

The rule says these exemptions apply unless local ordinances or regulations prohibit them. It also says the exemptions for trees and tree trimmings, landscape waste, residential waste, agricultural structures and demolished buildings are unavailable within Cedar Rapids, Marion, Hiawatha, Council Bluffs, Carter Lake, Des Moines, West Des Moines, Clive, Windsor Heights, Urbandale and Pleasant Hill. It adds that the exemptions do not excuse anyone from the solid waste disposal rules or the storm water rules.

What the department page and brochure add

On the department's open burning page, the list of items not to burn includes rubber tires, asbestos materials, asphalt, railroad ties, treated wood, dead animals, demolition debris, petroleum products, plastic, metals, carpet and furniture. It notes that local ordinances may be stricter than state rules, and that Polk and Linn counties require burning permits and other local governments may also. The open burning brochure repeats the exemptions and says that if curbside pickup or a redemption center for plastics, glass, metal cans and paper is available locally, even for a fee, it is illegal to burn them.

For other places see the table on tree waste and chip rules. Illinois also has its own page: tree waste rules in Illinois.

Sources