How Tempe Handles Fire Regulations: A Practical Guide

Tempe maintains 149 local ordinances across all categories, and 3 of those deal specifically with fire regulations. Here is a breakdown of what the city actually requires, what is prohibited, and where Tempe falls on the strict-to-permissive spectrum compared to other cities.

Smoke Detectors

Tempe amended Section R310.6 of its adopted 2024 International Residential Code to require smoke alarms in dwellings to run on permanent building wiring with battery backup, not battery power alone. The Building Safety Division enforces this through the permit and inspection process on new construction, additions and qualifying remodels citywide.

Key details: Governing section: IRC § R310.6 (Tempe amendment). Power source: Hardwired with battery backup. Battery-only exception: No commercial power available. Enforcing agency: Tempe Building Safety Division. Max fine: $2,500 or 6 months jail.

Installing or approving a smoke alarm that skips the required hardwired circuit is a Tempe City Code violation. General Chapter 1 penalties under Section 1-7 apply where the building code itself sets no separate fine: up to a $2,500 misdemeanor fine, six months imprisonment, or a civil sanction capped at $500, with every day a violation continues counted as a separate offense. The Building Safety Division can also withhold final inspection approval and a certificate of occupancy until the wiring is corrected.

Outdoor Burning

Tempe bans all outdoor fires, including fire pits and other open burning, from May 1 through September 30 each year under general code § 13A-27(a). Outside that window, no outdoor fire may burn during a high pollution advisory or a county-declared restricted burn period, and the only way around the ban is a state-authorized exception or permit under A.R.S. § 49-501.

Key details: Seasonal ban: No outdoor fires May 1 to September 30. Covers: Fire pits and all other outdoor fires (§13A-26). Year-round overlay: No fires on high pollution advisory days. City property: Wood-burning outdoors always banned on city land. Exceptions: Only via state permit under A.R.S. §49-501.

Violations of Tempe's outdoor fire rules are enforced under A.R.S. § 49-513 and Maricopa County Air Pollution Control Regulations § 300, per § 13A-56. The Public Works Director or designee can issue a written notice of violation giving ten working days to submit a correction plan, and an unresolved condition is deemed a public nuisance that the City can abate at the violator's expense, in addition to any county civil penalty and recovery of the City's attorney's fees and enforcement costs.

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

Fireworks

Tempe prohibits the use, sale, and possession of consumer fireworks within city limits except for limited permissible items around the Fourth of July and New Year's Eve. Only ground-based, non-aerial fireworks like sparklers and fountains are allowed during designated periods.

Key details: Permissible Types: Sparklers, fountains, ground spinners. Prohibited: Aerial fireworks, firecrackers, roman candles. Legal Period (July): June 24–July 6. Legal Period (NYE): December 10–January 3. State Law: ARS 36-1606.

Using prohibited fireworks is a misdemeanor with fines up to $1,000. Persons causing property damage or injury with fireworks face additional civil and criminal liability.

Compared to other cities, Tempe takes a harder line on fireworks. The enforcement and penalty structure reflects that.

The Bottom Line

Tempe is tougher than many cities when it comes to fire regulations. Out of the 3 rules covered here, 2 are rated strict. If you are a homeowner, renter, or business owner in Tempe, take the time to understand these requirements before they become a problem. Most violations come with fines, and some repeat violations can escalate.

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