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Fire Regulations in Kennewick, WA (2026)

6 verified fire regulations for Kennewick, Washington, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.

Verified from official government sources

Fire Pit Rules

Recreational fires in Kennewick, WA (Benton County, population approximately 84,000) are regulated by the Washington State Fire Code (WAC 51-54A, which adopts the 2021 International Fire Code) as enforced locally under Kennewick Municipal Code (KMC) Chapter 15.30 (Fire Prevention Code), together with the Benton Clean Air Agency (BCAA) outdoor-burning rules under WAC 173-425. BCAA limits a recreational fire inside Kennewick city limits to 3 feet by 3 feet by 2 feet tall, fueled only by dry, seasoned firewood, set back at least 50 feet from any structure, and continuously attended. A recreational fire may not be used to dispose of yard debris.

Kennewick WA Recreational Fire and Fire Pit Rules

Some Restrictions

Fireworks

All consumer fireworks are banned within the City of Kennewick. The Washington State Fireworks Law at Chapter 70.77 RCW (the State Fireworks Act) authorizes cities under RCW 70.77.395 to adopt local ordinances more restrictive than the state baseline, and Kennewick has used that authority to prohibit the sale, possession, and discharge of consumer fireworks city-wide. Aerial and explosive fireworks are illegal throughout Washington under RCW 70.77.136 and RCW 70.77.401 regardless of local opt-in.

Kennewick WA Fireworks Ban

Heavy Restrictions

Brush Clearance

Kennewick regulates dried grasses, dead brush, and unmaintained vegetation through Kennewick Municipal Code (KMC) Chapter 9.48 (Weed Hazards), which declares any grass, weed, or vegetation that has grown and died or is unirrigated and exceeds 12 inches in length to be a public nuisance. KMC 9.44 (Substandard / Unfit Buildings) addresses fire-hazard vegetation on developed lots. Code Enforcement may issue a 20-day notice to abate weeds before pursuing civil or criminal infractions. The Eastern Washington shrub-steppe gives Kennewick moderate seasonal fire risk that drives summer enforcement.

Kennewick WA Brush, Weed and Vegetation Clearance

Some Restrictions

Outdoor Burning

Residential yard-debris burning is banned year-round inside Kennewick city limits. The Benton Clean Air Agency (BCAA) administers outdoor-burning rules under the Washington Clean Air Act (Chapter 70A.15 RCW) and WAC 173-425. Inside Kennewick (and the surrounding urban growth area), WAC 173-425-040 prohibits residential burning of leaves, grass, brush, garbage, and similar yard debris. Only recreational fires under IFC Section 307.4, gas barbecues, and approved tumbleweed burns (with a BCAA burn-line call) are allowed.

Kennewick WA Outdoor Burning Restrictions

Heavy Restrictions

Wildfire Zones

Kennewick sits in the Columbia Basin shrub-steppe of Eastern Washington, an environment of moderate wildfire risk. Washington has not adopted IFC Chapter 49 (Wildland-Urban Interface Areas) or California-style Wildfire Hazard Severity Zones statewide, and Kennewick has no city-designated WHSZ map. Wildfire policy comes from the Benton County Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP, updated 2018 via WA DNR), Benton County Fire District No. 1 (which serves Kennewick), and DNR's statewide Wildfire Hazard and Risk Mapping under RCW 76.04. The annual Eastern Washington Industrial Fire Precaution Level (IFPL) and DNR burn restrictions drive the seasonal rules.

Kennewick WA Wildfire Risk and Wildland-Urban Interface

Some Restrictions

Propane Storage

Propane (LP-gas) storage in Kennewick is regulated by the Washington State Fire Code (WAC 51-54A, adopting the 2021 IFC) and the Washington State Building Code's Fuel Gas Code (WAC 51-52, adopting the 2021 IFGC), as enforced locally under Kennewick Municipal Code (KMC) Chapter 15.30 (Fire Prevention Code) and KMC 15.08 (Building Code). IFC Chapter 61 references NFPA 58 (Liquefied Petroleum Gas Code) for tank setbacks, and IFC Section 6109.13 caps residential aggregate LP-gas storage on Group R-3 lots at 500 pounds water capacity (approximately 125 gallons of propane).

Kennewick WA Residential Propane Storage Rules

Some Restrictions

Looking for Benton County county-wide rules?

County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Kennewick city rules.

Fire Regulations in Benton County