Backyard fires in Kent must use clean firewood in a contained pit under 3 feet wide, stay 25 feet from structures, and stop during any PSCAA burn ban. Grill cooking is always allowed.
Kent treats backyard fires as recreational fires under IFC 307 and Kent City Code Title 13. Allowed fuels are dry seasoned firewood or manufactured fire logs. Burning leaves, yard debris, construction scraps, pallets with nails, painted or treated wood, and any trash is prohibited. The fire must burn in a contained pit, chiminea, or approved portable device no larger than 3 feet across and 2 feet tall, placed at least 25 feet from houses, fences, decks, sheds, and overhanging branches. An adult must stay with the fire until it is cold, and a hose, bucket of water, or extinguisher must be within reach. Cooking fires in commercial grills or smokers are exempt from the size limits as long as fuel is clean. During PSCAA stage 1 or 2 burn bans, all outdoor wood fires including recreational must be extinguished. Kent has ordered burn bans in place during wildfire smoke episodes too.
Contact your local code enforcement office for specific penalty information.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
Kent, WA
Kent decibel limits follow WAC 173-60 and KCC 8.05 using EDNA zones. Residential receiving limit is 55 dBA day and 45 dBA night. Commercial sources are cappe...
Kent, WA
Kent industrial sources are capped at 70 dBA day and 65 dBA night at another industrial property, but only 60 dBA day and 50 dBA night when received at a res...
Kent, WA
Commercial trucks over 10,000 pounds GVWR generally cannot park on Kent residential streets except for active loading. Warehouse districts and truck routes h...
Kent, WA
Kent follows Washington State Building Code EV-ready requirements for new multifamily and commercial buildings. Public chargers exist at Kent Station and sev...
Kent, WA
Kent driveway aprons require Public Works approval under KCC Title 6. New or widened driveways need a right-of-way construction permit, and vehicles must not...
Kent, WA
Kent has no city requirement to split shared fence costs with a neighbor. Washington common law controls boundary fences. Survey the property line before bui...
Side-by-side rule comparisons with other cities in King County.
See how other cities in King County handle backyard fires.
See how Kent's backyard fires rules stack up against other locations.
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.