Fire Regulations in Tucson, AZ (2026)
8 verified fire regulations for Tucson, Arizona, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Fire Pit Rules
Recreational fire pits are allowed in Tucson with 25-foot clearance from structures and combustibles. No permit required for recreational fires. Gas/propane fire features exempt from burn bans. Open wood-burning fires subject to Pima County PDEQ no-burn day advisories.
Tucson Fire Pit Rules & Outdoor Fire Regulations
Some RestrictionsFireworks
Tucson Code §11-22 bans all consumer fireworks within city limits. Only state-permitted novelties (fountains, sparklers, smoke items) may be sold. Use violations are civil infractions; property damage/injury violations are Class 1 misdemeanors.
Tucson Fireworks Rules & Restrictions
Heavy RestrictionsA.R.S. § 36-1606 — Consumer fireworks regulation; state preemption
36-1606. Consumer fireworks regulation; state preemption; further regulation of fireworks by local jurisdiction. A. The sale and use of permissible consumer fireworks are of statewide concern. The regulation of permissible consumer fireworks pursuant to this article and their sale or use is not subject to further regulation by a governing body, except as follows: 1. In a county with a populatio...
Brush Clearance
Tucson Fire Department and Pima County require defensible space around structures in wildland-urban interface zones. Property owners must maintain a 30-foot defensible zone with cleared brush and a 100-foot extended zone with reduced fuel density. Rules are triggered by the Sonoran Desert fire code and apply particularly to properties adjacent to Saguaro National Park and the Catalina Foothills.
Fire: Brush Clearance
Heavy RestrictionsOutdoor Burning
Open burning is generally prohibited in Tucson under Pima DEQ Rule 17.16.090 and Tucson Fire Code. Recreational fires in approved appliances are allowed with restrictions, but burning of yard waste, trash, or land-clearing debris requires a specific permit that is rarely issued inside city limits.
Fire: Outdoor Burning
Heavy RestrictionsWildfire Zones
Eastern and northern Tucson neighborhoods adjacent to Saguaro National Park, Coronado National Forest, and Tucson Mountain Park fall within mapped wildland-urban interface zones. Properties in these zones face stricter building code requirements including Class A fire-resistant roofing, ember-resistant vents, and defensible space maintenance.
Fire: Wildfire Zones
Heavy RestrictionsSmoke Detectors
Tucson requires smoke alarms in every sleeping room, outside each sleeping area, and on every level of all residences under the International Residential Code as adopted by Tucson Building Code. Interconnected hardwired alarms with battery backup are required in new construction and major remodels.
Fire: Smoke Detectors
Heavy RestrictionsBackyard Fires
Backyard recreational fires in Tucson must be in a manufactured fire pit, chiminea, or similar appliance under 3 feet in diameter, located at least 15 feet from any structure or combustible vegetation, and attended by an adult with a water source available. Fires must be extinguished by 11 PM.
Fire: Backyard Fires
Some RestrictionsPropane Storage
Tucson Fire Department enforces the adopted International Fire Code limits on propane cylinder size and quantity at homes. Larger tanks require setbacks from buildings, property lines, and ignition sources, plus permits from TFD.
Tucson Residential Propane Cylinder Limits
Some RestrictionsLooking for Pima County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Tucson city rules.
Fire Regulations in Pima County →