Fire Regulations in Onslow County, NC (2026)
2 rules for unincorporated Onslow County, North Carolina.
Verified from official government sources
Fire Pits & Backyard Fires
Camp fires and other recreational fires are allowed on private property in unincorporated Onslow County without a burning permit under Code of Ordinances § 14-183(b)(2), as long as they burn only wood, not garbage or synthetic material, and never create a nuisance. The county sets no fixed setback distance; smoke, odor, soot or ash reaching a neighbor's property triggers enforcement instead.
Onslow County Recreational Fire Rules
Light RestrictionsOnslow County Code of Ordinances § 14-183(b)(2)
(2)Camp fires and fires used solely for outdoor cooking and other recreational purposes, or for ceremonial occasions, or for human warmth and comfort and which do not create a nuisance and do not use synthetic materials or refuse or salvageable materials for fuel;
Outdoor Burning
Onslow County bans all open burning in the unincorporated county unless it falls into a specific exception under Code of Ordinances § 14-183. Garbage, lumber, tires and other synthetic material can never be burned outdoors. Violators face civil penalties starting at $100 and misdemeanor charges enforced by the planning and development department, the sheriff's office, and county fire marshals.
Onslow County Open Burning Prohibition
Significant RestrictionsOnslow County Code of Ordinances § 14-183(a)
(a)All open burning is prohibited except as provided herein. Any burning not specifically authorized by this article must be conducted in accordance with state law or regulation. This article does not relieve an operator from obtaining a permit where required by federal or state law or regulation. Non-vegetative materials, including, without limitation, garbage, refuse, household trash, lumber,...
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