8 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 1 city in Lucas County, Ohio.
Verified from official government sources
Recreational fire pits are allowed under Ohio EPA rule OAC 3745-19-03 if fueled with clean seasoned firewood, not used for waste disposal, and kept to three feet or less in diameter and two feet or less in height. Toledo also requires 25-foot spacing from structures.
OAC 3745-19-03(B)(2)
Bonfires, campfires and outdoor fireplace equipment, whether for cooking food for human consumption, pleasure, religious, ceremonial, warmth, recreational, or similar purposes, if... (a) They are fueled with clean seasoned firewood... (b) They are not used for waste disposal purposes. (c) They shall have a total fuel area of three feet or less in diameter and two feet or less in height.
Since HB 172 (2022), Ohio law lets residents discharge 1.4G consumer fireworks on designated days (July 3-5, New Year's, Memorial and Labor Day weekends, etc.) statewide. But Toledo and most townships opted out and ban them; check your own city or township first.
ORC 3743.45(D)
A county, with respect to the unincorporated territory of the county, a township, with respect to the unincorporated territory of the township, or a municipal corporation may do either of the following: (1) Restrict the dates and times a person may discharge... fireworks... (2) Ban the discharge, ignition, or explosion of fireworks purchased pursuant to this section.
Lucas County is a humid Lake Erie/Maumee River lowland with no wildfire brush-clearance mandate. There is no defensible-space law here. Overgrown brush is handled as a nuisance by your city or township, and any brush burning must follow Ohio EPA open-burning rules.
Ohio EPA rule OAC 3745-19-03 prohibits open burning in restricted (municipal) areas except for narrow exceptions. Burning trash, tires, plastics, and building materials is banned statewide. Toledo and its urban zone fall in the restricted area with tight limits.
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)
Lucas County has no designated wildfire hazard zones. NW Ohio's flat, humid Lake Erie/Maumee River landscape is not fire-prone, so there is no wildland-urban-interface map, defensible-space law, or fire-hazard-severity rating for the county.
Ohio's building and fire codes require working smoke detectors in dwellings, installed outside every sleeping area. ORC 3781.104 mandates detectors for apartments and condos, and rentals must have operable alarms. Requirements are enforced by your city building/fire department, not the county.
ORC 3781.104(A)(1)
Each dwelling unit shall have smoke detector devices approved by the board and installed in the immediate vicinity but outside of all sleeping rooms.
Backyard recreational fires are legal in Lucas County under Ohio EPA OAC 3745-19-03 when kept small (under 3 ft wide, 2 ft tall), fueled by clean firewood, and not used to burn waste. In Toledo, keep fires in an approved container 25 feet from any structure.
OAC 3745-19-03(B)(2)
Bonfires, campfires and outdoor fireplace equipment... (a) They are fueled with clean seasoned firewood, natural gas or equivalent... (b) They are not used for waste disposal purposes. (c) They shall have a total fuel area of three feet or less in diameter and two feet or less in height.
The Ohio Fire Code (OAC 1301:7-7-61) governs LP-gas storage countywide. Inside a home, only tiny cylinders are allowed (max 2.7 lb water capacity each, 5.4 lb aggregate per unit). Larger tanks and grill cylinders must be stored outside per NFPA 58.
OAC 1301:7-7-61
Storage of cylinders within a residential building, including the basement or any storage area in a common basement... and attached garages, shall be limited to cylinders each with a maximum water capacity of 2.7 pounds... and shall not exceed 5.4 pounds aggregate water capacity for smaller cylinders per each living space unit.
1 cities in Lucas County have their own fire regulations rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
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