Live Oak, TX Fire Regulations: Backyard Fires (2026)

Live Oak treats backyard recreational fires as permitted activity so long as they meet International Fire Code Section 307.4.2 standards. Portable outdoor fireplaces, chimineas, gas fire tables, and masonry or steel pits are all acceptable devices. The fire cannot exceed 3 feet in fuel pile diameter and 2 feet in height, and must be at least 25 feet from structures, wooden fences, decks, overhanging branches, and property lines. Propane or natural gas fire features can be placed closer per manufacturer listing, typically 10 feet from structures. Only seasoned wood, manufactured logs, or clean charcoal may be used as fuel; no yard waste, treated lumber, or trash. A competent adult must supervise the fire until fully extinguished, and a connected garden hose, bucket of water, or fire extinguisher must be on hand. Smoke that drifts into neighboring property can be cited as a public nuisance. During Bexar County burn bans all solid-fuel backyard fires are prohibited, though gas fire features usually remain permitted because they are ignited and extinguished with a valve.