Fire Regulations in Cleveland, OH (2026)
8 verified fire regulations for Cleveland, Ohio, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Fire Pit Rules
Recreational fire pits in Cleveland fall under §277.09 open burning rules and may require a permit. Ohio EPA allows contained fires up to 3 ft diameter with clean fuel, but Cleveland's local air quality rules may impose additional requirements.
Cleveland Fire Pit Rules
Some RestrictionsFireworks
Cleveland opted out of Ohio Revised Code Chapter 3743 consumer fireworks legalization. Discharging 1.4G fireworks inside city limits remains illegal and carries municipal penalties enforced by CDP and the Fire Marshal.
Cleveland Fireworks Ordinance
Heavy RestrictionsBrush Clearance
Cleveland regulates overgrown lots through the Housing Code, not a defensible space rule. Grass and weeds must stay under 8 inches, and brush posing fire or pest hazards can be cited and abated.
Cleveland Brush and Vegetation Clearance
Some RestrictionsOutdoor Burning
Open burning in Cleveland requires a permit from the Commissioner per §277.09. Cleveland Division of Air Quality limits burn size to 5x5x5 feet. Recreational cooking fires and fire pits under Ohio EPA limits (3 ft diameter, 2 ft high) may be exempt.
Cleveland Outdoor Burning Rules
Heavy RestrictionsOhio Administrative Code Rule 3745-19-03
(A) No person or property owner shall cause or allow open burning in a restricted area except as provided in paragraphs (B) to (D) of this rule or in section 3704.11 of the Revised Code. (B) Open burning shall be allowed for the following purposes without notification to or permission from the Ohio EPA: (1) Heating tar, welding, acetylene torches, highway safety flares, heating for warmth of ou...
Wildfire Zones
Cleveland is not in a designated wildfire hazard zone. Northeast Ohios humid climate and Lake Erie moisture keep wildfire risk very low, and no WUI construction or defensible space rules apply in the city.
Cleveland Wildfire Zone Designation
Few RestrictionsSmoke Detectors
Cleveland enforces ORC 3781.105 smoke and CO alarm rules. Alarms are required on every level and outside sleeping areas, CO alarms where fuel appliances exist, and landlords must provide them at move-in.
Cleveland Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detector Rules
Heavy RestrictionsBackyard Fires
Backyard fires are restricted under Ohio EPA rule OAC 3745-19 and the Ohio Fire Code. Small contained cooking fires are allowed with setbacks, but open burning of yard waste, leaves, and trash is prohibited in Cleveland.
Cleveland Backyard and Recreational Fires
Heavy RestrictionsOhio Admin. Code 3745-19-03 - Restrictions on open burning
No person or property owner shall cause or allow open burning in a restricted area except as provided in paragraphs (B) to (D) of this rule or in section 3704.11 of the Revised Code. (B) Open burning shall be allowed for the following purposes without notification to or permission from the Ohio EPA: (1) Heating tar, welding, acetylene torches, highway safety flares, heating for warmth of outdoo...
Propane Storage
Cleveland Fire Department enforces NFPA 58 propane storage rules through the Ohio Fire Code, capping residential cylinder quantities, requiring outdoor storage, and limiting LP-gas use on multifamily balconies under Chapter 211 and OAC 1301:7-7.
Cleveland Propane Cylinder Storage Limits
Some RestrictionsLooking for Cuyahoga County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Cleveland city rules.
Fire Regulations in Cuyahoga County →