Backyard fires are restricted under Ohio EPA rule OAC 3745-19 and the Ohio Fire Code. Small contained cooking fires are allowed with setbacks, but open burning of yard waste, leaves, and trash is prohibited in Cleveland.
Cleveland, as an incorporated urban area under Ohio EPA rule OAC 3745-19, falls under the strictest category of open burning regulation. Open burning of leaves, brush, construction debris, trash, and yard waste is prohibited year-round within city limits, and violations can result in OEPA civil penalties in addition to local fire code enforcement. Recreational fires are narrowly permitted: a small cooking or warming fire no larger than 3 feet in diameter and 2 feet in height, using only clean seasoned firewood, located at least 25 feet from any structure or combustible material, and attended at all times with a means of extinguishment on hand. Commercial manufactured outdoor fireplaces, chimineas, and propane or natural gas fire pits are generally acceptable when used per manufacturer instructions and placed at the same 15- to 25-foot structure setback typical under the Ohio Fire Code. Burning of pressure-treated lumber, painted wood, plastics, rubber, roofing, and household trash is always prohibited. The Cleveland Division of Fire may impose temporary burn bans during dry spells or when air quality alerts are issued by the Northeast Ohio Areawide Coordinating Agency. Complaints about backyard fires are commonly enforced by the Fire Prevention Bureau and, at night, by CDP. Penalties include first-degree misdemeanor charges and OEPA administrative fines that can reach several hundred dollars per violation.
Contact your local code enforcement office for specific penalty information.
See how Cleveland's backyard fires rules stack up against other locations.
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