8 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 1 city in Hamilton County, Ohio.
Verified from official government sources
Under the Ohio Fire Code (OAC 1301:7-7-03), recreational fires must stay at least 25 feet from any structure or combustible material, and gas-fired fire pits at least 15 feet. There is no separate Hamilton County fire-pit ordinance.
OAC 1301:7-7-03, 307.4.2 & 307.4.2.1
Recreational fires shall not be conducted within 25 feet (7620 mm) of a structure or combustible material. Conditions that could cause a fire to spread within 25 feet (7620 mm) of a structure shall be eliminated prior to ignition. 307.4.2.1 Fire pits. Recreational fires conducted in gas-fired recreational pits shall not be conducted within 15 feet of a structure or combustible materials.
Since HB 172 (2022), Ohioans may discharge 1.4G consumer fireworks on private property on listed holidays with the owner's permission, unless your city, village or township has opted out and banned or restricted them.
ORC 3743.45(B)
Any person authorized under this section to possess 1.4G fireworks in this state may discharge, ignite, or explode those fireworks on private property, with authorization from the property owner, on the following days each year:
The Ohio Fire Code requires owners to cut and remove weeds, grass, vines and other ignitable growth that could endanger property. Township high-grass mowing is handled under ORC 505.87, not by a countywide fire ordinance.
OAC 1301:7-7-03, 304.1.2
Weeds, grass, vines or other growth that is capable of being ignited and endangering property, shall be cut down and removed by the owner or occupant of the premises.
Ohio EPA's OAC 3745-19-03 bans open burning of yard waste and residential trash in "restricted areas" - inside any municipality plus a buffer around larger ones. Because Hamilton County is heavily urbanized, most residents cannot legally burn leaves or brush.
OAC 3745-19-03(A)
No person or property owner shall cause or allow open burning in a restricted area except as provided in paragraphs (B) to (D) of this rule or in section 3704.11 of the Revised Code.
Hamilton County is not a designated wildfire-hazard zone and has no wildland-urban-interface ordinance. The Ohio Fire Code still limits open-flame use in wildfire risk areas and requires clearing ignitable vegetation.
OAC 1301:7-7-03, 308.1.6
Torches and other devices, machines or processes liable to start or cause fire shall not be operated or used in or upon wildfire risk areas, except by a permit in accordance with rule 1301:7-7-01 of the Administrative Code secured from the fire code official.
Smoke alarm rules come from the statewide Ohio building and fire codes, not a Hamilton County ordinance. New and substantially renovated dwellings must have interconnected smoke alarms; landlords must keep them working under Ohio's landlord duties (ORC 5321.04).
The Ohio Fire Code allows attended backyard recreational fires but requires a 25-foot setback; larger bonfires need a permit and a 50-foot setback. There is no separate county backyard-fire ordinance.
OAC 1301:7-7-03, 307.4.1
A bonfire shall not be conducted within 50 feet (15 240 mm) of a structure or combustible material unless the fire is contained in a barbecue pit. Conditions that could cause a fire to spread within 50 feet (15 240 mm) of a structure shall be eliminated prior to ignition.
The Ohio Fire Code (OAC 1301:7-7-61) governs propane storage statewide, not a county rule. In heavily populated areas the aggregate capacity of any one installation cannot exceed 2,000 gallons water capacity, and permits are required above set thresholds.
OAC 1301:7-7-61, 6104.2
Within the limits established by law restricting the storage of liquefied petroleum gas for the protection of heavily populated or congested areas, the aggregate capacity of any one installation shall not exceed a water capacity of 2,000 gallons (7570 L).
1 cities in Hamilton County have their own fire regulations rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
See every category we cover for Hamilton County — parking, noise, fences, fires, animals, pools, and more.
Hamilton County Ordinance Hub →