OUTDOOR WOOD BOILERS PROHIBITED. (Health/Building Inspection)
Madison General Ordinances § 7.55
in effect7.55 - OUTDOOR WOOD BOILERS PROHIBITED. (Health/Building Inspection)
(1) Definition. "Outdoor wood boiler" as used in this section means any self-contained stove designed for the combustion of solid fuel and connected to a home or other building through underground piping. Outdoor wood boilers are also called wood-fired furnaces, wood-fired stoves, and outdoor furnaces.
(2) No person shall install, use, or maintain any outdoor wood boiler within the City of Madison.
(3) Pre-existing Outdoor Wood Boilers. Any person with an outdoor wood boiler installed and operating prior to the effective date of this ordinance, may apply for a permit to continue to operate the boiler under the following conditions:
a. All outdoor wood boilers shall be operated in accordance with the manufacturer's directions, except as otherwise provided herein.
b. No industrial waste, rubber, plastic, used motor oil, toxic chemicals, hazardous waste, yard waste, painted or chemically treated wood, processed wood products, household garbage, cardboard, waste paper or animal waste shall be burned in the outdoor wood boiler.
c. Outdoor wood boilers shall not be operated between April 1 and October 15.
d. Outdoor wood boilers shall not be operated in a manner that produces excessive smoke, dust, or odors.
e. Outdoor wood boilers shall meet all applicable state and federal emission standards.
f. Upon the transfer of title of a home or other building with an outdoor wood boiler, neither the valid permit nor the right to operate the existing boiler shall be transferred to the new owner.
(4) Permits for Pre-Existing Wood Boilers. The permit shall be issued by the City Clerk based on an application form provided by that office and payment of a fifty dollar ($50) fee. The permit shall be valid for one year from the date of issue and may be renewed only by the original permit holder.
(5) Any person who shall violate any provision of Section (3) shall have their permit revoked.
(6) Boilers for utility, municipal, industrial and research purposes constructed under WDNR air emissions permits and in compliance with air quality standards are exempt from this ordinance.
(7) Any person operating an outdoor wood boiler without a permit upon conviction of such may be subject to a forfeiture of not more than two hundred dollars ($200). Each day such violation continues shall be considered a separate offense.
(Sec. 7.55 Cr. by ORD-09-00029, 2-19-09)
Source: City of Madison, Wisconsin, Madison General Ordinances (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/wi/madison/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=COORMAWIVOICH1--10_CH7PUHE_7.55OUWOBOPRHEBUINFetched: 11/1/2026