Residents should be aware that effective July 14, 2026, the Board has passed an ordinance amending portions of opening burning. Residents have until September 8, 2026 to remove barrels from the property:

A. Open burning prohibited. No person, firm or corporation shall build any outdoor fire within the corporate limits of the Village of Albany except as set forth in Subsection B.  This prohibition on burning includes burning of construction waste and debris at construction sites.

B. Exceptions.

• Controlled burning of small amounts of dry leaves and dry plant clippings only during daylight hours.
• Burning of dry trees, natural wood, or brush by such methods as approved by the Department of Natural Resources.
• Fires set for practice and instruction of firemen or testing of fire-fighting equipment.
• Backfires to control forest fires or fires set for forest or wildlife habitat management with approval of the Department of Natural Resources where no reasonable alternative is available.
• Outdoor fires for cooking, ceremonies or recreation.
• Small open flames for welding, acetylene torches, safety flares, heating tar or similar applications.

C. Open burning procedures. All allowed open burning shall be conducted in a safe pollution-free manner, when wind and weather conditions are such as to minimize adverse effects and in conformance with local and state fire protection regulations.

D. Chief may prohibit. The Fire Chief is permitted to  prohibit any or all bonfires and outdoor fires when atmospheric conditions or local circumstances make such fires hazardous.

E. Burning on streets. No materials may be burned upon any street, curb, gutter or sidewalk.

F. Any person utilizing and maintaining an outdoor fire shall be responsible for any liability resulting from damage caused by their fire.

G. Any person who is in violation of this section will be subject to the General Penalty found in Chapter 1, General Provisions, Section 1-19.