Fire Regulations in Fort Smith, AR (2026)
6 verified fire regulations for Fort Smith, Arkansas, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Fire Pit Rules
Fort Smith (Sebastian County, population approximately 89,000) regulates residential fire pits and outdoor recreational fires through the city's open-burning ordinance and 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.
Fort Smith AR Recreational Fire Pit Rules
Some RestrictionsFireworks
Consumer fireworks are prohibited within the City of Fort Smith. Although Arkansas state law (A.C.A. Section 20-22-701 et seq., the Arkansas Fireworks Law) permits the retail sale and use of consumer fireworks statewide from June 20 through July 10 and December 10 through January 5, A.C.A. Section 20-22-708 expressly preserves the authority of cities to ban or further restrict fireworks, and Fort Smith Municipal Code prohibits offering for sale, selling, or using any fireworks inside the city.
Fort Smith AR Fireworks Are Prohibited Within City Limits
Heavy RestrictionsBrush Clearance
Fort Smith does not have a California-style defensible-space program. Fire-fuel vegetation is controlled instead through the nuisance ordinance in Fort Smith Code Chapter 16, which requires that grass and weeds on residential lots not exceed 6 inches in height, and that weeds and grasses on adjoining unopened rights-of-way, easements, and alleys not exceed 10 inches. Sebastian County's overall wildfire risk is rated low-to-moderate by the USDA Forest Service.
Fort Smith AR Brush and Vegetation Clearance
Some RestrictionsOutdoor Burning
General open burning is prohibited inside the City of Fort Smith. The local fire ordinance bars bonfires, rubbish fires, leaf burning, residential debris fires, and construction or demolition debris fires anywhere within city limits. Only narrow exceptions apply: small recreational fires meeting the 3-foot by 2-foot rule, and Commercial Burn Permits issued by the Fort Smith Fire Marshal for large land clearing, controlled forest or wildlife management, fire-training, or ceremonial purposes.
Fort Smith AR Outdoor Burning Restrictions
Heavy RestrictionsWildfire Zones
Fort Smith 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 Fort Smith has not adopted them locally. Sebastian County overall wildfire risk is rated low-to-moderate by the USDA Forest Service Wildfire Risk to Communities tool, although the nearby Ouachita National Forest sees regular prescribed burns.
Fort Smith AR Wildfire Hazard Designations
Few RestrictionsPropane Storage
Propane (LP-gas) storage in Fort Smith is governed by the Arkansas Fire Prevention Code 2021 Chapter 61 (Liquefied Petroleum Gases), which adopts the 2021 IFC LP-gas rules and 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).