Raleigh, NC Fire Regulations: Backyard Fires (2026)

Backyard fires in Raleigh are regulated under the NC Fire Code Section 307 (adopted citywide), the NC Open Burning Rule at 15A NCAC 02D .1903, and Raleigh Fire Department operational policy. Small recreational fires used for cooking, warmth, or ambiance are generally allowed without a permit if they meet the container and setback rules. Approved containers include store-bought steel fire pits, brick or stone masonry fire pits, chimineas, portable propane fire bowls, and permanently installed outdoor fireplaces; loose ground fires on bare dirt are technically allowed only if similar setbacks and size limits are met but are much more likely to draw Fire Department response. The fuel pile at any one time should not exceed about 3 feet in diameter and 2 feet in height, and a responsible adult must attend the fire with a garden hose, bucket of water, or suitable fire extinguisher until it is fully extinguished with water or sand. Required setbacks from structures, fences, overhanging trees, and the property line are typically 15 to 25 feet.

Open burning of yard debris - leaf piles, pruned branches, brush, and other vegetative material that originated on the same property - is more restricted than recreational fires. The NC Open Burning Rule allows burning of vegetative debris that originated on the property, but only during daytime hours (typically 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM), only if no air-quality alert or burn ban is in effect, and only after obtaining an NC Forest Service burn permit where required. Inside Raleigh city limits, open burning of yard debris is heavily discouraged because the city provides free yard-waste cart service and seasonal loose-leaf collection from November through January, and large debris fires frequently draw neighbor complaints that trigger Raleigh Fire Department response. Burning trash, household garbage, painted or pressure-treated wood, plastics, tires, or construction debris is never allowed anywhere in Raleigh and is a violation of both state air-quality rules and city fire code. Fires that are smoky, out of control, or unattended can result in a citation, the cost of fire suppression billed to the owner, and civil liability for any spread damage to neighboring property.