Fire Regulations in Fairfax County, VA (2026)
5 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 3 cities in Fairfax County, Virginia.
Verified from official government sources
Fire Pits & Backyard Fires
Fairfax County bars fire pits, chimineas, outdoor fireplaces and other portable solid-fuel devices from balconies or decks, and from within 15 feet of combustible construction or a residential occupancy, under Fire Prevention Code Section 307.4.4. Detached one- and two-family homes and townhouses are exempt from the 15-foot rule. Violations are a Class 1 misdemeanor.
Fairfax County Outdoor Fire Pit Setback Rule
Some RestrictionsFairfax County Code § 62-2-8, Fire Prevention Code § 307.4.4
307.4.4 Outdoor solid fuel burning devices. Add Subsection as follows: 307.4.4 Outdoor solid fuel burning devices. Outdoor fireplaces, fire pits, chimineas, and other similar portable devices designed for outdoor use shall not be operated or stored on a balcony or deck of any structure or within 15 feet of combustible construction or a residential occupancy. Exception: Detached one- and two-fam...
Fireworks
Fairfax County makes it unlawful to transport, manufacture, store, possess, sell, buy, use, ignite or explode any fireworks under Fire Prevention Code Section 5608.1.1.1. The manufacture of fireworks is banned countywide outright. Only Fire Marshal's Office-approved 1.4G consumer fireworks and permitted public displays escape the ban, and violations are a Class 1 misdemeanor.
Fairfax County Bans Consumer Fireworks
Heavy RestrictionsFairfax County Code § 62-2-8, Fire Prevention Code § 5608.1.1.1
5608.1.1 Unlawful activities. Add Subsections as follows: 5608.1.1.1 Unlawful activities. Except as hereinafter provided, it shall be unlawful for any person, firm, or corporation to transport, manufacture, store, possess, sell, offer for sale, expose for sale, or to buy, use, ignite, or explode any fireworks. 5608.1 General... The manufacture of fireworks is prohibited within the County.
Outdoor Burning
Fairfax County bans kindling or maintaining any open fire outdoors on public or private property, with narrow carve-outs for cooking fires, agricultural burning, official duty fires and Director-approved controlled burning equipment. Even permitted burning must stop entirely once the county declares an Air Pollution Episode "Alert" stage.
Fairfax County Open Burning Prohibition
Significant RestrictionsFairfax County Code § 103-3-11(a)(1)
(a)Prohibition of open burning.(1)No person or owner shall kindle or ignite, cause to be ignited, permit to be ignited, or maintain any open fire in any public or private place outside any building. In instances wherein the burning outside a building may be permissible under the provisions of this Chapter, either as an exception to the general proscription against open burning as provided in Su...
Smoke Detectors
Fairfax County requires smoke detectors in every building containing one or more dwelling units and in hotels, motels, rooming houses, dormitories, juvenile homes, and licensed adult care facilities, no matter how old the building is, and gives landlords five days to fix a detector after written tenant notice.
Fairfax County Smoke Detector Requirement
Some RestrictionsFairfax County, VA, Code of Ordinances § 61-5-1; § 61-5-2
In addition to the requirements of the VUSBC...the provisions of this Article shall govern the installation and maintenance of smoke detectors. Smoke detectors shall be installed in the following structures regardless of when constructed: (a)Any building containing one (1) or more dwelling units.(b)Hotels or motels regularly used, offered for, or intended to be used to provide overnight sleepin...
Propane Storage
Fairfax County requires a Fire Marshal operational permit for outdoor LP-gas storage or use over 10 gallons aggregate per event, but single- and two-family dwellings are exempt from that permit.
Fairfax County Outdoor LP-Gas Permit
Some RestrictionsFairfax County Code § 62-2-8, Table 107.2, Item 62 (Sec. 6101.2)
LP-Gas: An operational permit is required for storage and/or use outside, portable installation, per event, more than 10 gallons aggregate (30-day permit). Exception: Single- and two-family dwellings. $104 63 6106 6109 LP-Gas: An operational permit is required for: a. Dispensing and Cylinder Refill Location ..... . b. Retail cylinder exchange location ..... . c. Automated cylinder exchan...
Fire Regulations by City in Fairfax County
3 cities in Fairfax County have their own fire regulations rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
All Fairfax County ordinances
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