Small contained recreational fires are generally allowed, but any fire within or near a forested area needs a free NJ Forest Fire Service permit. During dangerous conditions firewardens can prohibit wooded fires entirely. Local fire codes add distance and attendance rules.
In New Jersey you must contact the nearest Forest Fire Service office to request a permit before having any fire within a forested area. Permits are free, should be requested at least 10 days in advance, and are not transferable — they must be carried by the person burning and shown on request. The Service uses a staged prohibition system: at Stage 2, wooded fires are banned unless in an elevated fireplace, grill, or fuel stove; at Stage 3 all wooded fires are prohibited except electric or liquid/gas fuel. Away from forested land, backyard recreational fires fall under your municipality's Uniform Fire Code rules on containment, setbacks and attendance.
Unpermitted or out-of-condition wooded fires can bring fines up to $5,000 plus reimbursement of the cost of extinguishing the fire.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
Morris County, NJ
Backyard composting is allowed and encouraged. The Morris County Municipal Utilities Authority (MCMUA) runs two vegetative-waste compost facilities and gives...
Morris County, NJ
Morris County sets no artificial-turf ordinance. Whether synthetic turf is allowed, and any lot-coverage or drainage limits, is decided by your municipality....
Morris County, NJ
Morris County does not require native plants, but New Jersey encourages them. NJDEP model tree and stormwater ordinances favor native, non-invasive species f...
Morris County, NJ
New Jersey has no state or Morris County law restricting residential rainwater harvesting. Rain barrels and cisterns for non-potable outdoor use are legal, a...
Morris County, NJ
Morris County sets no watering ordinance. Lawn-watering limits in New Jersey are declared statewide by the NJDEP under its drought tiers (Watch, Warning, Eme...
Morris County, NJ
There is no Morris County weed ordinance. New Jersey municipalities regulate weeds, brush, and noxious growth through their property-maintenance codes. In Mo...
See how Morris County'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 If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.