Backyard recreational fires are allowed in Franklin County under Ohio Fire Code 307.4 with a 3-foot diameter and 25-foot setback limit. Burning yard waste or trash is banned countywide by Ohio EPA rules, so backyard fires must use only clean seasoned firewood or commercial fire logs.
Homeowners across Franklin County from Upper Arlington to Grove City may legally operate backyard fire pits, chimineas, and portable outdoor fireplaces provided they burn only clean, dry, seasoned firewood or manufactured fire logs. Portable outdoor fireplaces must be set 15 feet from structures; open-flame ground fires require 25 feet. An adult must supervise with water or extinguisher available. Smoke that becomes a neighbor nuisance may be ordered extinguished. No permit is needed for a typical backyard fire, but any fire larger than 3 feet diameter or using yard waste is considered illegal open burning under Ohio EPA OAC 3745-19-03 and subject to enforcement.
A fire officer may order immediate extinguishment; refusal is a minor misdemeanor. Illegal open burning citations can reach 25,000 dollars per day under Ohio EPA authority. Columbus code officers can also issue nuisance citations for persistent smoke complaints.
See how Franklin County's backyard fires rules stack up against other locations.
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