Backyard fires in Hendersonville fall into three categories under Title 7 of the Hendersonville Municipal Code, which adopts the 2021 IFC (effective July 1, 2025): (1) cooking, ceremonial, and recreational fires - including backyard fire pits, chimineas, smokeless fire pits, barbecues, and outdoor fireplaces - are exempt from the Controlled Burn Permit requirement, subject to IFC 307.4 standards (25-ft setback from structures, adult attendance, extinguishment means on site); (2) brush burns require a Controlled Burn Permit from the Fire Prevention Bureau (615-822-1119) and are limited to indigenous trees/limbs/brush in 144 cubic foot piles with a 50-ft setback, attended at all times, only 7 a.m.-7 p.m. Monday-Saturday, no winds above 10 mph; (3) burning trash, pallets, treated wood, tires, painted material, asbestos, herbicides, pesticides, or petroleum products is prohibited regardless of containment under both city policy and TDEC Rule 1200-03-04. The Fire Marshal may declare burn bans during drought.
Hendersonville's backyard-fire rules are administered by the Fire Prevention Bureau (615-822-1119) under Title 7 of the Hendersonville Municipal Code, which adopts the 2021 International Fire Code (effective July 1, 2025; the prior edition was the 2018 IFC effective June 13, 2017) and the 2018 NFPA 101 Life Safety Code. Three categories apply: (1) Recreational, cooking, and ceremonial fires - including manufactured fire pits, chimineas, smokeless fire pits, charcoal/gas barbecues, and outdoor fireplaces - are expressly exempt from the Controlled Burn Permit requirement under the Hendersonville Fire Department's open-burning policy. They remain subject to IFC Section 307.4 standards: recreational fires (open) limited to 3 ft diameter and 2 ft high, at least 25 ft from any structure or combustible material, attended at all times by an alert adult, with a portable fire extinguisher, dirt, sand, water barrel, or garden hose available for immediate use. Portable outdoor fireplaces (manufactured units) require a 15-ft separation per IFC 307.4.2 (1- and 2-family dwellings excepted). (2) Controlled brush burns require a Controlled Burn Permit issued by the Fire Department (any fire station for residential; Fire Marshal's office at 225 Freehill Road for commercial) and are limited to: indigenous trees/limbs/brush only; pile size 144 cubic feet (12 ft x 12 ft); 50-ft minimum setback from structures; burning 7 a.m.-7 p.m. Monday-Saturday only (no Sunday); no burning above 10 mph sustained wind; constant adult attendance with water/extinguishing equipment on site; permit valid one week, with daily Fire Department call-in confirmation. (3) Prohibited materials include pallets, rubber tires, construction debris, roofing materials, metal parts, painted materials, asbestos, treated wood, pesticides, herbicides, and petroleum-based products. These are also prohibited under TDEC Rule 1200-03-04 (Tennessee Air Pollution Control Regulations) regardless of permit status. The Hendersonville Fire Marshal may declare adverse-weather burn bans invalidating all permits and prohibiting all open burning (such a ban was issued effective April 25, 2026, for extreme drought conditions, withdrawing all previously issued burn permits).
Backyard fires that violate Title 7 of the Hendersonville Municipal Code, the adopted 2021 IFC, or the Fire Department's open-burning policy are enforced by the Hendersonville Fire Prevention Bureau (615-822-1119). Open burning without a Controlled Burn Permit is subject to a $250 fine for malicious burning per the City's published policy. Suppression units may be dispatched to extinguish unlawful or uncontrolled fires; unattended fires, oversize fires, fires too close to structures, fires burning prohibited materials, or fires conducted on a Sunday or during a Fire Marshal-declared burn ban may be ordered extinguished and cited.
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