Queen Creek, AZ Fire Regulations: Backyard Fires (2026)

A backyard recreational fire, fire pit, or container fire used for warmth or cooking does not require a burn permit in Queen Creek, per the Town's burn permit guidance, and is allowed October 1 through April 30 each year, excluding No Burn Days. Burning household trash and yard waste is prohibited county-wide under Maricopa County Rule 314 regardless of season. On a No Burn Day, triggered by an ADEQ High Pollution Advisory, residents must refrain from using outdoor fire pits unless the fire is the only source of warmth and/or cooking for humans. Maricopa County allows cooking fires even on No Burn Days only when they use gaseous fuels or clean dry wood, are for immediate use, and stay small. The Town adopted the 2021 International Fire Code (Ordinance 797-22, effective January 1, 2023), which provides the technical standards for recreational fires; under the IFC framework, recreational fires are generally kept small and a safe distance from structures and combustibles, attended at all times, with a means of extinguishment available. Town Code Section 9-8-5(E) also prohibits starting or sustaining a fire on Town park property except in designated, approved fire pits or grills.