Fee Added to Recreational Fire Permits

St. Louis Park residents that want to have backyard bonfires will now have to pay the city before lighting a match.

On Monday, the City Council approved a new, $25 fee for recreational fire permits. Previously, these permits were free.

Money collected will allow the fire department to meet with residents and conduct site inspections before permits are issued. Department officials believe this more thorough process will cut down on annual complaints from neighbors about things such as over-sized fires, excess smoke and fires that are too close to property lines.

The new permits will also be permanent, whereas the old permits only lasted for a year. Department officials say this will cut down on repetitive paperwork. The number of recreational fire permits issued by the city has increased each of the last seven years, topping out at 698 in 2011.