Fire Regulations in Amherst, NY (2026)
4 verified fire regulations for Amherst, New York, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Fire Pits & Backyard Fires
Backyard fire pits and camp fires in the Town of Amherst don't need a permit, but Code § 36-5 caps them at three feet across and two feet high, requires seasoned wood unless the fire is in an approved container, sets a 90-foot setback from neighboring homes, and requires someone to watch the fire until it's out.
Amherst Recreational Fire and Fire Pit Rules
Some RestrictionsAmherst Code § 36-5
C. A Recreational Fire or Camp Fire is exempt from the requirement of a permit. Except for fires in an Approved Container, the fuel used in a Recreational Fire or Camp Fire shall be seasoned wood (not freshly cut). D. Location. The location for open burning shall not be less than ninety (90) feet from a residence, occupied building, housing unit, or mobile home other than that of the owner or o...
Outdoor Burning
Chapter 36 of the Amherst Town Code bans burning any materials in an open fire anywhere in town outside the Village of Williamsville, unless the burning fits one of the narrow exceptions the chapter allows, such as a permitted bonfire or brush fire, or a recreational fire in an approved container.
Amherst's Open Burning Prohibition
Heavy RestrictionsAmherst Code § 36-4
§ 36-4. Prohibited Burning. Except as allowed in Section 36-5, no person shall burn, cause, suffer, allow or permit the burning of any materials in an open fire.
Smoke Detectors
Amherst's Property Maintenance Code requires smoke detectors to be installed and maintained in accordance with all applicable New York State codes, rules, regulations, and laws under § 151-87E, folding the state smoke-alarm mandate directly into local code enforcement. Tampering with or interfering with a smoke detector's effectiveness is separately made a violation of the article.
Amherst Smoke Detector Maintenance Rule
Some RestrictionsAmherst Code § 151-87E
Smoke detectors. (1) Smoke detectors shall be installed and maintained in accordance with all applicable New York State codes, rules, regulations, laws, ordinances, etc. (2) Tampering. Anyone tampering or interfering with the effectiveness of a smoke detector shall be in violation of this article.
Propane Storage
Amherst Code § 83-5-3 requires a fire prevention permit for any liquefied petroleum gas installation over 1,000 gallons' water capacity, and for every permanent LP-gas installation regardless of container size, issued by the Commissioner of Building.
Amherst Fire Prevention Permit For LP-Gas Storage
Some RestrictionsAmherst Code § 83-5-3
A fire prevention permit specifying the specific activity or operation shall be obtained for the following: ... LIQUEFIED PETROLEUM GAS: for each installation of liquefied petroleum gas employing a container or an aggregate of interconnected containers of over 1,000 gallons' water capacity, and for each permanent installation, irrespective of size of containers.
Looking for Erie County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Amherst city rules.
Fire Regulations in Erie County →