Springdale's Fire Regulations: The Rules That Matter

Every city handles fire regulations a little differently. In Springdale, Arkansas, there are 6 distinct rules that residents and property owners should be aware of. Some are stricter than what neighboring cities enforce, and others are more relaxed. Here is what you need to know.

Fireworks

Unlike Fort Smith, Bentonville, and Rogers, Springdale permits consumer fireworks on private property between 8:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m. on July 1 through July 4, with the property owner's consent. Aerial fireworks that travel on a stick (bottle rockets, sky rockets) are prohibited inside city limits. Authority derives from Arkansas Fireworks Law (A.C.A. Section 20-22-701 et seq.) and Section 20-22-708, which preserves municipal authority to regulate fireworks.

Key details: Legal Window: July 1-4, 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.. Prohibited: Aerial stick fireworks (bottle rockets). Property Owner Consent: Required. State Law: A.C.A. Sec. 20-22-701 et seq.. Municipal Authority: A.C.A. Sec. 20-22-708.

Discharging fireworks outside the July 1-4 window, outside the 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. hours, or using prohibited aerial stick fireworks (bottle rockets, sky rockets) is a Chapter 46 violation enforced by the Springdale Police Department and Fire Marshal. Penalties under the Springdale Code general penalty run up to $500 per offense and up to 30 days in jail per A.C.A. Section 14-55-504, and fireworks may be confiscated. Each separate firework discharged may be charged as a separate offense. Causing a fire by discharging fireworks may also trigger arson or reckless burning liability under A.C.A. Section 5-38-301 or Section 5-38-302 (Class D felony for $1,000-plus damage). Fireworks remain banned during any Washington County or Benton County burn ban.

Fire Pit Rules

Springdale (Washington and Benton Counties, population approximately 95,000) regulates residential fire pits and outdoor recreational fires through Chapter 46 (Fire Prevention and Protection) of the Springdale Municipal Code, which adopts the Arkansas Fire Prevention Code (2021 edition, based on the 2021 International Fire Code). Recreational fire devices must be at least 25 feet from any structure, no larger than 3 feet in diameter or 2 feet high, burn only seasoned wood, be continuously attended, and use a spark screen.

Key details: State Code: Arkansas Fire Prevention Code 2021 (IFC 307). Setback from Structures: 25 ft minimum. Max Fire Size: 3 ft diameter / 2 ft height. Wind Cutoff: Prohibited above 15 mph. Fire Department: (479) 751-4510.

Recreational fires that exceed the 25-foot setback, the 3-foot by 2-foot size limit, that burn during a burn ban, or that burn with winds over 15 mph violate Chapter 46 of the Springdale Code and the Arkansas Fire Prevention Code. Violations are enforced by the Springdale Fire Department and Code Enforcement under the General Penalty of the Springdale Municipal Code, with fines up to $500 per offense and up to 30 days in jail per A.C.A. Section 14-55-504, with each day a continuing violation chargeable as a separate offense. Recklessly causing a fire that damages property may also trigger criminal arson liability under A.C.A. Section 5-38-301.

Brush Clearance

Springdale does not have a California-style defensible-space program. Fire-fuel vegetation is controlled instead through the city's nuisance ordinance, which limits grass and weeds on residential property to 8 inches in height (clarified by city council in 2018) and 12 inches within 12 feet of property adjacent to a subdivision or road. Washington County's overall wildfire risk is rated low-to-moderate by the USDA Forest Service Wildfire Risk to Communities tool.

Key details: Residential Vegetation Height: 8 inches maximum. Buffer / Right-of-way Height: 12 inches within 12 ft. Code Authority: Springdale Code Enforcement. Warning Period: 7 days to abate. Washington Co Wildfire Risk: Low-to-moderate (USDA WRC).

Failing to mow grass and weeds below the 8-inch (or 12-inch buffer) limit is a Springdale nuisance violation. Code Enforcement posts a written warning giving 7 days to abate; if the owner does not abate, the city may contract a mower and bill the cost back to the owner as a special assessment under A.C.A. Section 14-54-904 (municipal authority to abate nuisances and assess costs), with the unpaid bill becoming a lien on the property. Repeat violations also trigger escalating fines under the Springdale Code general penalty, typically up to $500 per offense and up to 30 days in jail per A.C.A. Section 14-55-504.

Outdoor Burning

Outdoor burning inside Springdale requires a burn permit issued by the Springdale Fire Marshal. The Springdale Fire Department applies a strict policy and has stated that no burning is allowed citywide even when Benton County drops its burn ban. Small recreational fires meeting the Arkansas Fire Prevention Code Section 307 rules are the only exception. Washington County frequently issues countywide burn bans (such as the December 2025 ban), during which all permits are suspended.

Key details: Permit Required: Yes - Springdale Fire Marshal. Local Authority: Springdale Code Chapter 46. State Code: Arkansas Fire Prevention Code 2021 (Sec. 307). State Air Rule: DEQ Regulation 18. Burn Ban Status: Check Washington Co. (frequent).

Open burning without a Springdale Fire Marshal permit, or burning during an active burn ban, is enforced by the Springdale Fire Department and Police Department. Under the Springdale Code general penalty, fines run up to $500 per offense plus up to 30 days in jail per A.C.A. Section 14-55-504, with each day of continuing violation chargeable separately. Arkansas DEQ can separately assess civil penalties up to $10,000 per day per violation under A.C.A. Section 8-4-103 of the Arkansas Water and Air Pollution Control Act. Causing a wildfire or property damage may also lead to criminal arson liability under A.C.A. Section 5-38-301 (Class A misdemeanor through Class A felony depending on damage).

This is one of the stricter rules in Springdale's municipal code. If you are unsure whether your situation complies, it is worth checking with the city before proceeding.

Wildfire Zones

Springdale has no city-designated Wildfire Hazard Severity Zone. Arkansas has not adopted IFC Chapter 49 (Requirements for Wildland-Urban Interface Areas) or the International Wildland-Urban Interface Code at the state level, and Springdale has not adopted them locally. Washington and Benton County overall wildfire risk is rated low-to-moderate by the USDA Forest Service Wildfire Risk to Communities tool, although the surrounding Ozark National Forest and seasonal dry conditions trigger frequent county burn bans.

Key details: WHSZ Adopted: No (not adopted in AR or Springdale). IFC Ch. 49 Adopted: No (not in AR Fire Prevention Code 2021). IWUIC Adopted: No. Washington/Benton Co Risk: Low-to-moderate (USDA WRC). State Forestry Program: Voluntary Firewise USA.

Because there is no adopted WHSZ in Arkansas or Springdale, there are no wildfire-zone-specific violations or fines. The underlying open-burning, vegetation-height, and Arkansas Fire Prevention Code requirements are still enforced by the Springdale Fire Department and Code Enforcement, and Arkansas DEQ can assess civil penalties up to $10,000 per day for prohibited open burning under A.C.A. Section 8-4-103. State Forestry burn-season restrictions and county burn bans also apply during high-risk periods.

Springdale is more permissive than most cities when it comes to wildfire zones. That said, there are still limits.

Propane Storage

Propane (LP-gas) storage in Springdale is governed by the Arkansas Fire Prevention Code 2021 Chapter 61 (Liquefied Petroleum Gases), adopted by reference in Chapter 46 of the Springdale Municipal Code. AFPC 6101.2 references NFPA 58 (Liquefied Petroleum Gas Code) for setbacks. Above-ground residential tanks up to 125 gallons water capacity must be at least 10 feet from any important building, and aggregate residential storage on R-3 (single-family) lots is capped at 500 pounds water capacity (about 125 gallons of propane).

Key details: State Code: Arkansas Fire Prevention Code 2021 Ch. 61. Referenced Standard: NFPA 58 LP-Gas Code. Residential Aggregate Limit: 500 lb water capacity (R-3). Tank Setback (<=125 gal): 10 ft from buildings. Balcony Cylinder Limit: Single 20-lb cylinder (multifamily).

Exceeding the 500-pound aggregate residential limit, violating NFPA 58 setbacks, or operating without a required Fire Marshal permit is an AFPC violation enforceable by the Springdale Fire Department under Chapter 46 of the Springdale Code. Penalties under the general penalty run up to $500 per offense and up to 30 days in jail per A.C.A. Section 14-55-504, plus an order to remove non-compliant tanks at the owner's expense. The Arkansas LP Gas Board can separately suspend or revoke installer licenses under A.C.A. Section 15-75-301 et seq. and assess civil penalties.

The Bottom Line

Springdale'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 Springdale is broadly strict or permissive.

These rules come from Springdale's publicly available municipal code. For complete penalty schedules, exemption details, and answers to common questions, see the individual ordinance pages throughout this guide.