Fire Regulations in Douglas County, CO (2026)
5 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 1 city in Douglas County, Colorado.
Verified from official government sources
Fire Pits & Backyard Fires
When no fire restrictions are in effect, residential patio fire pits, chimineas and portable fireplaces are allowed if supervised by someone 18 or older. Stage 1 restrictions permit them; Stage 2 restrictions ban all wood-burning fire pits, chimineas and patio fires.
Backyard Fire Pit Rules, Douglas County, Colorado
Some RestrictionsDouglas County Stage 1 Fire Restrictions (allowed acts)
Residential use of charcoal grills, Tiki torches, fires in chimineas or other portable fireplaces or patio fire pits, as long as the fires are supervised by a responsible person at least 18 years old.
Fireworks
Colorado allows only non-aerial, non-explosive "permissible fireworks" (fountains, sparklers, ground spinners). All aerial and audible-explosive fireworks (bottle rockets, firecrackers, mortars, Roman candles) are illegal statewide. Douglas County routinely bans even permissible fireworks during summer fire restrictions.
Fireworks Rules in Unincorporated Douglas County, Colorado
Some RestrictionsDouglas County Stage 2 Fire Restrictions (prohibited acts)
Use of fireworks – including professional firework displays.
Outdoor Burning
Open burning of wood, vegetation or slash requires a permit from your local fire protection district, and all open burning is prohibited when County fire restrictions are in effect. Burning trash, garbage or construction debris is never allowed.
Open Burning Rules, Douglas County, Colorado
Some RestrictionsLarkspur Fire Protection District, Burn Permit rules
All outdoor burning of wood or vegetation requires a permit issued by the LFPD. This applies to fire pits, campfires or agricultural burning.
Wildfire Zones
Douglas County's Wildfire Hazard Overlay District covers unincorporated land the county has mapped as wildfire-prone, from foothill edges near Highlands Ranch to Sedalia and the Rampart Range. Any building permit, rezoning, subdivision, site improvement plan or 35-acre-plus development there triggers a mandatory on-site wildfire hazard assessment by the county's own Professional Forester before the county processes the application.
Wildfire Hazard Overlay Rules in Douglas County
Significant RestrictionsDouglas County Zoning Resolution §§ 1-1701, 1-1703 (Wildfire Hazard Overlay District)
§ 1-1701. Intent. 1. To identify wildfire hazard areas and to protect the health, safety, and welfare of residents by minimizing the potential for the loss of life and property by the ignition and spread of wildfires in the Wildland Urban Interface and the Wildland Urban Intermix. ... § 1-1703. Applicability. Upon the adoption of the Wildfire Hazard Overlay District, the regulations contained i...
Smoke Detectors
Douglas County enforces the adopted International Residential and Fire Codes, which require smoke alarms in each bedroom, outside sleeping areas and on every level. Carbon monoxide alarms are required near sleeping areas; a County amendment requires one within 25 feet of any fuel-fired heater.
Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm Rules, Douglas County, Colorado
Some RestrictionsDouglas County Building Code Amendment (carbon monoxide alarms)
A carbon monoxide alarm shall be located within twenty-five feet of any fuel-fired heater.
Fire Regulations by City in Douglas County
1 cities in Douglas County have their own fire regulations rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
All Douglas County ordinances
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