Fire Regulations in Gaithersburg, MD (2026)
3 verified fire regulations for Gaithersburg, Maryland, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Fire Pits & Backyard Fires
Open fires in Gaithersburg city parks are limited to city-provided fireplaces, with charcoal and gas grills allowed only in designated picnic areas. City Code Section 15A-14 requires any personal grill to sit at least 50 feet from tall grass, tree lines or anything else that could catch fire, and bans leaving hot coals or an unattended fire on park property.
Gaithersburg Fires and Grill Setbacks in Parks
Some RestrictionsGaithersburg City Code § 15A-14(b)
Fires shall be permitted only in fireplaces provided by the city for that purpose; except, that cooking on charcoal grills or stoves using gas or other liquid fuels shall be permitted in designated picnic areas. Personal grills shall be at least fifty (50) feet from any active area, tall grass, tree line, or any object, property, or structure that could be damaged by fire.
Outdoor Burning
Gaithersburg City Code Sec. 19-6 makes it unlawful to burn leaves, trash, rubbish, weeds or any other substance in a roadway, gutter or public right-of-way anywhere in the city. It is an outright ban on that specific kind of open burning, enforced as a municipal infraction.
Gaithersburg Street Burning Prohibition
Heavy RestrictionsGaithersburg City Code § 19-6
It shall be unlawful for any person to burn any leaves, trash, rubbish, weeds or any other substance in any roadway, gutter or public right-of-way in the city.
Smoke Detectors
Gaithersburg's 2021 International Residential Code amendments close a smoke-alarm loophole: City Code § 5-5 strikes the exception that let a homeowner adding only a porch or deck skip a smoke alarm upgrade under IRC § R314.2.2. Hotel, dorm and apartment sleeping rooms get their own local rule too, a mandatory 520 Hz low-frequency alarm tone under IBC § 907.2.8.4, and day-care sleeping areas must have system smoke detectors.
Gaithersburg Smoke Alarm Code Amendments
Some RestrictionsGaithersburg City Code § 5-5 (2021 IRC § R314.2.2, as locally amended)
Section R314. Smoke Alarms. Subsection R314.2.2. Exception 1. Remove "or the addition of a porch or deck".
Looking for Montgomery County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Gaithersburg city rules.
Fire Regulations in Montgomery County →