Oro Valley Fire Regulations: Backyard Fires Rules (2026)

Oro Valley regulates outdoor fires through adopted fire codes and coordination with the Golder Ranch Fire District. Recreational fires in approved fire pits, chimineas, or portable containers are allowed provided the fire is contained within a noncombustible vessel no larger than 3 feet in diameter and 2 feet in height. A minimum 25-foot clearance from structures, fences, and combustible vegetation is required. Only clean, dry firewood or manufactured fire logs may be burned; treated lumber, painted wood, trash, and yard waste are prohibited fuels. A garden hose connected to a water supply or other extinguishing equipment must be readily available. Open burning of brush, weeds, and debris is prohibited within Oro Valley town limits. Pima County Department of Environmental Quality (PDEQ) monitors air quality and may declare no-burn advisory days during which all non-essential outdoor burning is prohibited. The wildland-urban interface along the Catalina foothills makes fire prevention especially critical, and the Golder Ranch Fire District may impose additional seasonal burn restrictions during high fire danger periods. Charcoal and gas grills used for cooking are exempt from recreational fire restrictions.