Fire Regulations in Alachua County, FL (2026)
3 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 1 city in Alachua County, Florida.
Verified from official government sources
Fire Pits & Backyard Fires
Alachua County bans virtually all open fires, including backyard campfires and bonfires, once the Fire Chief activates an emergency burn ban triggered by drought conditions. During an active ban, only barbecue grills or fire pits with a fuel area no larger than three feet in diameter and two feet in height are exempt from the prohibition, per Alachua County Code § 362.55.
Backyard Fire Size Limits During Burn Ban (Alachua County, FL)
Some RestrictionsAlachua County Code § 362.55
The following activities are exempted from burn bans unless otherwise stated in the ban:(1)Public or private fireworks displays done by licensed contractors who have obtained permits from Alachua County or any municipality included in the ban:(2)Use of barbeque grills or barbeque pits where the total fuel area does not exceed three (3) feet in diameter and two (2) feet in height: and(3)Any othe...
Fireworks
Discharging fireworks in unincorporated Alachua County requires a special permit from the County Manager under the Fireworks Display Special Permitting Ordinance. Applicants must show experience and training, carry at least $5,000,000 in liability insurance, and post a $5,000 bond before a display is approved.
Fireworks Display Special Permit. Alachua County
Significant RestrictionsAlachua County Code § 83.03
The County Manager is hereby authorized to issue the special permit upon the following conditions: (1)Written application for same must be made not less than 15 business days prior to its use.(2)The applicant must demonstrate to the satisfaction of the County Manager that they and all personnel under their supervision have sufficient experience, background and training in the discharge of firew...
Outdoor Burning
Alachua County's fire chief can activate a countywide burn ban whenever the Keetch-Byram Drought Index reaches 500, banning campfires, bonfires, trash burning, and other open fires under County Code § 362.53. Each ban runs for seven days unless renewed, and violators are personally liable for suppression costs and damages, on top of code-enforcement penalties.
Alachua County Emergency Burn Ban Authority
Significant RestrictionsAlachua County Code § 362.53
(1)A burn ban may be activated when fire hazard conditions exist.(2)The fire chief or designee may issue a burn ban under this Article if conditions exist which threaten the safety of residents or property within Alachua County, even if the conditions do not meet the threshold for fire hazard conditions, as defined herein.(3)The fire department will enforce all burn bans beginning once the requ...
Fire Regulations by City in Alachua County
1 cities in Alachua County have their own fire regulations rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
All Alachua County ordinances
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