Fire Regulations in Fort Lauderdale, FL

If you live in Fort Lauderdale or are thinking about moving there, fire regulations are one of those things you probably won't think about until they affect you directly. Fort Lauderdale has 4 specific rules on the books covering different aspects of fire regulations, and some of them might surprise you.

Fire Pits & Backyard Fires

A recreational backyard fire is allowed in the Fort Lauderdale area only as a contained campfire, bonfire, or cooking fire approved by the fire authority, and it must not create a nuisance or excessive smoke. Florida rule 62-256.700, F.A.C., separately permits attended recreational fires of clean vegetative debris and untreated wood.

Key details: Allowed: Contained campfire/bonfire/cooking fire, attended. Approval: Appropriate fire authority (Broward County Code ch. 27). Fuel: Clean vegetative debris and untreated wood only. State rule: Rule 62-256.700(10), F.A.C..

An unapproved or nuisance-creating recreational fire can be abated as illegal open burning under Broward County Code Chapter 27 and the Florida Fire Prevention Code, with code-enforcement fines and possible fire-department cost recovery. Burning prohibited materials is a separate violation of Rule 62-256.700, F.A.C.

Propane Storage

Installing an L.P. gas cylinder anywhere in Fort Lauderdale requires a fire inspection division permit and inspection, with a $5 fee for an aboveground cylinder and $10 for a belowground one, under Code Sec. 13-57.

Key details: Permit authority: Fire inspection division. Aboveground cylinder fee: $5.00. Belowground cylinder fee: $10.00. State law reference: F.S. ch. 527 (LP gas). Governing law: Code Sec. 13-57.

Installing or maintaining an L.P. gas cylinder without the required fire inspection division permit is a Code violation, enforceable as a general Code violation under Sec. 1-6: a fine up to $500, up to 60 days imprisonment, or both, with each day of an ongoing unpermitted installation counted as a separate offense. The fire inspection division can also require correction or removal of a noncompliant installation before the tank is placed in service.

Fireworks

Florida law lets fireworks be used solely and exclusively on three designated holidays: New Year's Day (January 1), Independence Day (July 4) and New Year's Eve (December 31). In Fort Lauderdale that holiday window sits beside a city ban on manufacturing fireworks and a mandatory fire marshal permit for any public pyrotechnic display.

Key details: State holiday window: January 1, July 4 and December 31 only. State authority: Fla. Stat. 791.08, added by ch. 2020-11. Manufacture in city: Prohibited within corporate limits (Sec. 13-55(b)). Display permit lead time: 15 days, with a $75 late fee. Display application fee: $375 plus $125 per extra inspector-hour.

The city enforces Sec. 13-55 through the fire marshal and the fire-rescue department. Running a pyrotechnics display without a permit is unlawful for the sponsor, the operator and every participant. The fire inspector monitoring a permitted show has authority to modify, delay or cancel it if it endangers people or property, and the applicant pays for that monitoring. Manufacturing fireworks inside city limits is prohibited outright. Outdoor event agreements under Sec. 15-183 also require a fire-rescue fireworks permit.

Outdoor Burning

Fort Lauderdale's open burning is governed primarily by Broward County and Florida rules. Residential burning of yard trash and household paper is prohibited in Broward County, and most other open burning requires fire-authority approval and large setbacks. State rule 62-256.700, F.A.C., further limits what may be burned.

Key details: County code: Broward County Code ch. 27, art. IX. State rule: Rule 62-256.700, F.A.C.. Setback: 300 ft from buildings; 150 ft from highways. Yard trash: Residential yard-trash burning prohibited in Broward.

Open burning violations are enforced by Broward County environmental staff and the Fort Lauderdale Fire-Rescue Fire Prevention Bureau under the Florida Fire Prevention Code (NFPA 1) and County Code Chapter 27. Penalties include county code-enforcement fines, abatement orders, and fire-department cost recovery for response.

Compared to other cities, Fort Lauderdale takes a harder line on outdoor burning. The enforcement and penalty structure reflects that.

The Bottom Line

Fort Lauderdale's fire regulations rules are a mixed bag. Some areas are strict, others are relaxed, and the details matter. The best approach is to check the specific rule that applies to your situation rather than assuming Fort Lauderdale is broadly strict or permissive.

This guide is based on Fort Lauderdale's current municipal code. Local rules can and do change, so check the individual ordinance pages for the latest details, penalties, and FAQs.