Fire Regulations in Lima, OH (2026)
8 verified fire regulations for Lima, Ohio, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Fire Pit Rules
Recreational fires (campfires) are allowed in Lima. Fuel must be clean, seasoned firewood stacked no larger than 2 feet high by 3 feet wide, and the fire must sit at least 25 feet from any structure or combustible material. It must be attended with an extinguisher on hand.
Fire Pit and Recreational Fire Rules
Some RestrictionsCity of Lima Open Burning Guidelines; OFC 307.3.2
Recreational Fires (campfires) are allowed. Must use clean, seasoned firewood, or equivalent, stacked no larger than (2) feet high by (3) feet wide. Site cannot be within (25) feet of the nearest structure or combustible material.
Fireworks
Lima did NOT opt out of Ohio's 2022 fireworks law. Residents may discharge 1.4G consumer fireworks on state-designated holidays only, on private property you own or have permission to use. July 3-5, 4 p.m. to 11 p.m. Streets are off-limits.
Consumer Fireworks in Lima, Ohio
Some RestrictionsORC 3743.45
A person may discharge 1.4G fireworks on the following days: ... The third, fourth, and fifth days of July; The first Friday, Saturday, and Sunday before and after the fourth day of July ...
Brush Clearance
Lima has no wildfire-style defensible-space clearance mandate - that is a Western-state concept. Instead, overgrown brush, weeds, and rank vegetation are handled as a property-maintenance nuisance under Lima's Codified Ordinances, and the city can order it cut and bill the owner.
Brush, Weeds and Vegetation Clearance
Some RestrictionsOutdoor Burning
Lima sits inside a 'restricted area,' so open burning is tightly limited. Burning residential trash or garbage is prohibited. Burning yard waste (limbs, brush, leaves, clippings) is prohibited unless the Ohio EPA approves it in advance and the site is more than 1,000 feet from the nearest neighbor's house.
Open Burning Rules in Lima
Some RestrictionsCity of Lima Open Burning Guidelines (OAC 3745-19)
The burning of residential waste (trash) and/or garbage is prohibited. The burning of yard waste: tree limbs, branches, brush, leaves, clippings, etc. is prohibited unless approved in advance by the Ohio EPA. The site must be more than 1000 feet from nearest neighbor's house.
Wildfire Zones
Lima is not in a designated wildfire hazard zone. Northwest Ohio has no state-mapped wildland-urban-interface (WUI) or fire-severity zones, so there are no wildfire-zone building requirements or defensible-space mandates here. Fire risk is managed through the open-burning and property-maintenance rules instead.
Wildfire Zones - Not Applicable in Lima
Some RestrictionsSmoke Detectors
Smoke alarms are required in Lima homes under Ohio's building and fire codes, not a special city rule. Alarms must be installed outside every sleeping area and be audible in all bedrooms with doors closed. Landlords must provide and maintain working alarms in rental units.
Smoke Detector Requirements
Some RestrictionsBackyard Fires
Small backyard recreational fires (campfires) are allowed with clean firewood, kept 25 feet from structures. Larger bonfires are prohibited in Lima unless the Ohio EPA approves them in advance; when approved they cannot exceed 5 feet by 5 feet, must sit 50 feet from structures, and cannot burn longer than
Backyard Fires and Bonfires
Some RestrictionsCity of Lima Open Burning Guidelines; OFC 307.3.1
Bon Fires are prohibited unless approved in advance by the Ohio EPA. Must use cleaned, seasoned firewood... stacked no larger than (5) feet high by (5) feet wide. Site cannot be within (50) feet of nearest structure or combustible material. Fire cannot burn longer than (3) hours.
Propane Storage
Lima has no unique propane ordinance - storage follows the Ohio Fire Code (OAC 1301:7-7-61, adopting NFPA 58). Small residential cylinders for grills are fine; limits apply to how much LP-gas you may store, cylinder placement, and clearance from buildings and ignition sources.
Propane and LP-Gas Storage Rules
Some RestrictionsLooking for Allen County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Lima city rules.
Fire Regulations in Allen County →