8 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 4 cities in Hidalgo County, Texas.
Verified from official government sources
The Hidalgo County Fire Marshal regulates outdoor fires in the unincorporated area under Texas Administrative Code outdoor-burning rules. Contained recreational fires must be attended, and open burning of debris requires a burn permit and is suspended during any active county burn ban.
30 Tex. Admin. Code Chapter 111
The initiation of burning shall commence no earlier than one hour after sunrise. Burning shall be completed on the same day not later than one hour before sunset.
Texas allows consumer fireworks on private property in the unincorporated area of Hidalgo County, but the Commissioners Court may by order restrict certain aerial and stick-type 'restricted fireworks' during drought conditions under Local Government Code Section 352.051.
Tex. Local Gov't Code Sec. 352.051
the commissioners court of the county by order may prohibit or restrict the sale or use of restricted fireworks in the unincorporated area of the county.
Hidalgo County has no wildland-urban-interface defensible-space mandate; brush clearance is addressed through outdoor-burning and burn-permit rules rather than a clearance ordinance. Cleared brush may be disposed of only under a Fire Marshal burn permit or by lawful hauling.
Hidalgo County Fire Marshal Burn Permit Information
When debris burning is allowed, establish wide control lines down to bare mineral soil prior to lighting your fire.
Outdoor burning in unincorporated Hidalgo County is governed by Chapter 111 of the Texas Administrative Code and requires a burn permit from the Fire Marshal to burn brush. Burning is suspended countywide whenever the Commissioners Court declares a burn ban.
Hidalgo County Fire Marshal Burn Permit Information
Burn permits must be obtained in order to burn brush. One form of I.D. is required to obtain a burn permit.
Hidalgo County is not a mapped high wildfire-hazard or wildland-urban-interface region and has no defensible-space or building-hardening overlay. The main seasonal fire risk is drought-driven brush and grass fires, addressed through Commissioners Court burn bans.
The Hidalgo County Fire Marshal enforces the International Fire Code and requires working smoke alarms in overnight accommodation facilities. Fire and life-safety inspections verify that alarms are present and in proper working condition.
Hidalgo County Fire and Life Safety Inspection Checklist
Smoke alarms are required in any overnight accommodation facility. Smoke Alarms must be in proper working condition at all times.
Backyard and open fires in unincorporated Hidalgo County follow the state outdoor-burning rules in 30 TAC Chapter 111 and any active Commissioners Court burn ban. Any fire must be attended, and the person burning remains liable for resulting damage.
30 Tex. Admin. Code Chapter 111
The authority to conduct outdoor burning under this regulation does not exempt or excuse any person responsible from the consequences, damages, or injuries resulting from the burning.
Propane and LP-gas storage in Hidalgo County is regulated by the Railroad Commission of Texas LP-Gas Safety Rules and the International Fire Code enforced by the Fire Marshal. Installers must be state-licensed and tanks must meet NFPA 58 setback distances.
4 cities in Hidalgo County have their own fire regulations rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
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