Outdoor Burning: Cape Coral vs Fort Myers
How do outdoor burning rules compare between Cape Coral, FL and Fort Myers, FL?
Cape Coral and Fort Myers have similar restriction levels.
Cape Coral, FL
Lee County
You may burn yard waste in Lee County without a Florida Forest Service authorization if the pile fits an 8-foot diameter, is your own vegetative debris, and is lit after 9 a.m. and out one hour before sunset. Larger piles and land-clearing need authorization.
View full Cape Coral rules →Fort Myers, FL
Lee County
Outdoor burning in Fort Myers is governed by Chapter 40 of the City Code, the Florida Fire Prevention Code (8th Edition, NFPA 1, 2021), and Florida Administrative Code 5I-2 (Florida Forest Service - Open Burning). Recreational fires (3 ft x 2 ft of natural firewood) are allowed without a permit when no burn ban is in effect. Yard-waste and household-trash burning is prohibited under FAC 5I-2.004. Non-residential pile burning requires authorization from the Florida Forest Service Caloosahatchee Forestry Center. Lee County Ordinance 18-09 authorizes the Board of County Commissioners to declare an emergency burn ban prohibiting all outdoor ignition sources (other than cooking grills) when the Keetch-Byram Drought Index reaches 600 or higher; the ban applies inside Fort Myers city limits.
View full Fort Myers rules →Key Facts Comparison
| Fact | Cape Coral | Fort Myers |
|---|---|---|
| Yard-waste permit | Not required under 8 ft | - |
| Larger piles | Authorization required | - |
| Ignition window | After 9 a.m. ET | - |
| Must be out | 1 hour before sunset | - |
| Local office | Caloosahatchee, 239-690-8001 | - |
| City Code | - | Fort Myers Ch. 40 (Fire Prevention) |
| State Code | - | FFPC 8th Ed. (NFPA 1, 2021); FAC 5I-2 |
| Burn Ban Authority | - | Lee Co. Ord. 18-09 (KBDI ≥ 600) |
| Prohibited Fuels | - | Garbage, tires, plastics, treated wood (FAC 5I-2.004) |
| Cooking Grills | - | Exempt from burn ban |
Highlighted rows indicate differences between cities.
Cape Coral FAQ
Do I need a permit to burn leaves and brush in Lee County?
No authorization is needed for your own yard waste in an 8-foot-or-smaller pile, if no burn ban is active and you follow the timing and setback rules.
Can I burn household trash outdoors?
No. It is illegal to burn household garbage, paper, treated lumber, plastics, rubber, tires, pesticides, paint, and aerosol containers anywhere in Florida.
Fort Myers FAQ
Can I burn yard waste in Fort Myers, FL?
Generally no within city limits. Florida Administrative Code 5I-2.006 allows yard-waste pile burning only with Florida Forest Service authorization and only when KBDI, setback, and weather conditions are met. Setbacks of 25 feet from forest, 50 feet from paved roads, and 150 feet from any occupied building other than yours are required. During a Lee County emergency burn ban (Ordinance 18-09) all outdoor burning is prohibited.
When does Lee County issue a burn ban that covers Fort Myers?
Lee County Ordinance 18-09 authorizes the Board of County Commissioners to declare an emergency burn ban when the Keetch-Byram Drought Index (KBDI) reaches or exceeds 600. The ban applies countywide, including the City of Fort Myers, and prohibits open burning, recreational fires, bonfires, and outdoor ignition sources. Cooking grills are exempt. Lee County has declared bans multiple times, most recently January 2026.
Can I burn trash or construction debris in Fort Myers?
No. Florida Administrative Code 5I-2.004 (Open Burning Not Allowed) prohibits the open burning of household garbage, tires, plastics, treated lumber, rubber, painted material, and other polluting or hazardous materials anywhere in Florida. The Fort Myers Fire Department and the Florida Forest Service enforce.
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