Fire Regulations in Billings, MT (2026)
7 verified fire regulations for Billings, Montana, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Fire Pits & Backyard Fires
Billings doesn't require a permit for recreational fires or portable outdoor fireplaces, but the fire code official can order one extinguished immediately if it turns hazardous or if a required burn permit wasn't obtained.
Billings Recreational Fire Extinguishment Rule
Light RestrictionsSec. 14-301 (IFC § 307.3)
"307.3 Extinguishment authority. When recreational fires, bon fires, portable outdoor fireplaces, or open burning creates or adds to a hazardous situation, or a required permit for burning has not been obtained, the fire code official is authorized to order the extinguishment of the burning operation.
Fireworks
Billings bans possessing, selling, or setting off fireworks citywide except at a fire marshal-permitted supervised public display.
Fireworks Ban in Billings
Heavy RestrictionsBillings City Code Sec. 14-401
Except as hereinafter provided, no person shall possess, store, offer for sale, expose for sale, sell at retail, use or explode any fireworks in the City of Billings.
Brush Clearance
Billings requires property owners to cut weeds and untended vegetation over 12 inches down to 4 inches, citing fire hazard as a trigger.
Billings Nuisance Weed & Brush Clearance
Some RestrictionsSecs. 25-301, 25-302
Nuisance weeds means: (1) All weeds, grasses, noxious weeds, and untended vegetation growing in excess of twelve (12) inches in height located on any premises in the city; (2) Any other untended vegetation creating a potential fire hazard... It shall be the duty of every owner of a developed parcel to cut, or remove...all nuisance weeds in excess of twelve (12) inches in height growing thereon....
Outdoor Burning
Billings requires a fire code official permit before any agricultural, rural, or government open burning, and can order fires extinguished if they turn hazardous.
Billings Open Burning Permit Rule
Some RestrictionsSec. 14-301 (adopting IFC §§ 307.2, 307.3, as amended)
"307.2 Permit required. A permit shall be obtained from the fire code official in accordance with Section 105 prior to kindling a fire for approved agricultural and rural burning, bon fires, and open burning conducted by government agencies subject to the approval of the fire code official. Application for such approval shall only be presented by and permits issued to the owner or lessee of the...
Wildfire Zones
The Billings fire chief can close hazardous fire areas to public entry during high wildfire danger and reopen them once conditions ease, per Municipal Code Art. 14-500.
Billings Hazardous Fire Area Closures
Significant RestrictionsArt. 14-500, Secs. 14-501, 14-503, 14-505
The fire chief or his designee is authorized to determine and publicly announce when hazardous fire areas shall be closed to entry and when such areas shall again be opened to entry. ... A person commits the offense of criminal trespass to hazardous fire Areas if the person enters or remains unlawfully in a properly posted hazardous fire area. ... A person convicted of a violation of this artic...
Smoke Detectors
Billings' zoning code requires every licensed short-term rental unit to have working smoke detectors, fire extinguishers, and CO2 detectors before it can legally operate under the city's short-term rental permit program.
Billings Requires Smoke Detectors in Short-Term Rentals
Some RestrictionsSec. 27-1005(O)(10)(a) [Standards for commercial uses — Short-term rentals]
Short-term rental units must contain smoke detectors, fire extinguishers and CO2 detectors; and shall remain compliant with all zoning, building, fire, noise, and other applicable city and state codes.
Propane Storage
Billings caps liquefied petroleum gas storage under its adopted Fire Code at 2,000 gallons aggregate capacity per installation and confines outdoor above-ground tanks to heavy commercial and industrial zones.
Billings Propane Storage Limits
Some RestrictionsSec. 14-301 (amending adopted IFC § 6104.2); see also Sec. 14-305
"Section 6104.2 Maximum capacity within established limits. For the protection of heavily populated or congested areas, the storage of liquefied petroleum gas shall not exceed the aggregate capacity of 2,000 gallons for any one installation. Storage of liquefied petroleum gas in above-ground tanks outside of buildings is restricted within the limits established by the City of Billings Zoning Co...
Looking for Yellowstone County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Billings city rules.
Fire Regulations in Yellowstone County →