6 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 1 city in Monroe County, New York.
Verified from official government sources
Recreational fire pits using clean dry wood are generally permitted in Monroe County with proper clearances. Gas fire pits are typically exempt from burn permit requirements. Permanent structures may require a building permit.
Consumer fireworks remain illegal statewide under NY Penal Law §270.00. Monroe County has opted into the 2017 state law permitting the sale of certain sparkling devices (sparklers, ground-based devices) during defined seasonal windows.
Monroe County follows NY DEC Part 215 seasonal burn ban (March 16 to May 14). Property owners must keep lots clear under town property maintenance codes. No wildfire-zone clearance requirement.
6 NYCRR Part 215 — Open Burning
Open burning is regulated under Part 215 . Part 215 describes the types of fires that are allowed and the materials that may be burned in an open fire. Towns, villages, cities, and counties can pass ordinances that are stricter than Part 215. You should check with local authorities before having an open fire to find out if local law requires a permit or prohibits open fires. What Can I Burn? Th...
Outdoor burning in Monroe County is regulated by Monroe County Sanitary Code Article V and NY State DEC Part 215. Burning trash and leaves is prohibited statewide. Small recreational fires with clean dry wood are generally allowed with conditions.
Monroe County is not designated a high wildfire hazard area. No defensible space requirements. NY DEC Part 215 brush burn ban (March 16 – May 14) is the primary wildfire-season rule. Rochester metro dominated by urban/suburban land cover.
NYSDEC Open Burning / ECL Fire Towns
Open burning is the single greatest cause of wildfires in NYS. To report a wildfire, call 1-833-NYS-RANGERS (1-833-697-7264) or contact a forest ranger in your area . When you plan a fire, always check for fire danger in your area on DEC's online map (updated every week). Also, local governments may have stricter rules than NYS; your fire department will have information about local burning law...
Monroe County does not have a separate countywide smoke-alarm ordinance; smoke-alarm requirements come from the New York State Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code, including 19 NYCRR Part 1225 (which incorporates the 2020 Fire Code of New York State) and 19 NYCRR Part 1226 (Property Maintenance Code). State law requires smoke alarms inside every sleeping room, outside each separate sleeping area, and on every story including basements. Since April 1, 2019, all new battery-powered smoke alarms sold in New York must use sealed 10-year non-removable batteries (NY Executive Law §378(5-a)). In unincorporated Monroe County and in towns that do not maintain their own building department, code enforcement is handled by Monroe County under the Monroe County Code of Ordinances Chapter 156 (Uniform Code Enforcement). Cities, villages, and most towns within the county enforce the same state code through their own building departments.
1 cities in Monroe County have their own fire regulations rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
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