Fire Regulations in Guilford County, NC (2026)
6 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 2 cities in Guilford County, North Carolina.
Verified from official government sources
Fire Pits & Backyard Fires
Small backyard recreational fires for cooking, warmth, or pleasure are allowed in Guilford County without a burn permit, as long as only clean wood is burned. The fire must stay under 3 feet wide, sit at least 25 feet from structures, be constantly attended, and never burn trash or yard
Guilford County Backyard & Recreational Fires
Some RestrictionsNC DEQ Open Burning guidance
Campfires, outdoor cooking fires and bonfires are permissible, unless prohibited by local ordinances or temporary burn bans, provided that only vegetation such as firewood is burned.
Fireworks
North Carolina bans nearly all consumer fireworks statewide. In Guilford County, only non-aerial, non-explosive 'pyrotechnics' such as wire sparklers, fountains, snakes, and party poppers are legal. Firecrackers, bottle rockets, Roman candles, and any aerial or exploding fireworks are prohibited.
Guilford County Fireworks: Only Sparklers & Fountains Legal
Heavy RestrictionsNC Gen. Stat. §14-410(a)
it shall be unlawful for any individual, firm, partnership or corporation to manufacture, purchase, sell, deal in, transport, possess, receive, advertise, use, handle, exhibit, or discharge any pyrotechnics of any description whatsoever within the State of North Carolina.
Brush Clearance
Guilford County sets no mandatory defensible-space brush-clearance rule like fire-prone Western states. Land-clearing brush and limbs may be burned only with an NC Forest Service permit, kept well away from structures and roads. Overgrown lots are handled under the county's nuisance and vegetation ordinance, not a fire-clearance mandate.
Guilford County Brush Clearance & Land-Clearing Burns
Some RestrictionsNC DEQ Open Burning guidance (15A NCAC 02D .1903)
Land clearing burn piles must be at least 500 feet from occupied structures and at least 250 feet from any public road when the prevailing winds are blowing toward the road.
Outdoor Burning
Open burning in unincorporated Guilford County is limited to leaves and yard vegetation, burned only between 8:00 AM and 6:00 PM. A North Carolina Forest Service permit is required. Burning garbage, lumber, plastics, tires, or any man-made material is always illegal. Greensboro, High Point, Jamestown, and Gibsonville ban yard-waste burning
Guilford County Open Burning: Yard Waste Only, 8 AM-6 PM
Heavy Restrictions15A NCAC 02D .1903 / Guilford County Environmental Services
Burning yard waste is restricted to between the hours of 8:00 AM and 6:00 PM. The fire must be attended, and no new material can be added after 6:00 PM.
Smoke Detectors
North Carolina requires operable smoke alarms in every rental dwelling, and the state building code requires them in all new and renovated homes. Guilford County follows state law: landlords must provide UL-listed alarms, and new or replacement alarms in rentals must be tamper-resistant 10-year lithium-battery units.
Guilford County Smoke Alarm Requirements
Some RestrictionsNC Gen. Stat. §42-42(a)(5)
Provide operable smoke alarms, either battery-operated or electrical, having an Underwriters' Laboratories, Inc., listing or other equivalent national testing laboratory approval, and install the smoke alarms in accordance with either the standards of the National Fire Protection Association or the minimum protection designated in the manufacturer's instructions.
Propane Storage
Propane cylinders must be stored outdoors and upright in Guilford County, never indoors, in a crawl space, or near ignition sources. North Carolina adopts NFPA 58, and larger tanks (over 2,000 gallons single or 4,000 gallons aggregate water capacity) require submitted construction documents.
Guilford County Propane & LP-Gas Storage Rules
Some RestrictionsNC Dept. of Agriculture, Standards Division (LP-Gas) / NFPA 58
Tanks containing propane, or that ever had propane in them, are to be stored outdoors. Do not store indoors. Do not store under the house, such as in a crawl space. Do not store near a flame, fire, or other source of ignition.
Fire Regulations by City in Guilford County
2 cities in Guilford County have their own fire regulations rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
All Guilford County ordinances
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