Backyard recreational fires in Nassau County are restricted to small contained fire pits or portable outdoor fireplaces burning clean seasoned wood. Burning leaves, yard waste, household trash, or construction debris in backyards is ILLEGAL under NYSDEC rules and town codes.
Backyard fires must comply with both NYSDEC Part 215 and local town fire codes. Acceptable backyard fires include small recreational fire pits, chimineas, portable fireplaces, and cooking fires (grills, smokers) with clean fuel. Prohibited activities include burning leaves (which is the biggest seasonal enforcement issue in Nassau - leaves must be municipally collected, composted, or mulched, not burned), burning trash, and burning construction debris. Complaints are handled by local fire marshals and town code enforcement.
NYSDEC penalties start at $500 for first-offense residential leaf/brush burning. Town fire code violations typically add $100-$1,000 fines. Fires causing smoke nuisance to neighbors can also trigger public nuisance actions.
See how Nassau County's backyard fires rules stack up against other locations.
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