Queens County, NY Fire Regulations: Brush Clearance (2026)

Unlike fire-prone areas of the western US, Queens has no defensible-space ordinance requiring specific clearance radii around structures. However, several NYC rules address overgrown vegetation and brush as property-maintenance issues. NYC Administrative Code 16-118 prohibits property owners from allowing accumulation of rubbish, weeds, or overgrown vegetation that creates a public nuisance or fire hazard. The NYC Housing Maintenance Code (HPD) requires multiple dwellings to maintain yards and exterior areas free of hazardous conditions. Vacant lots must be kept clear of weeds over 10 inches tall under DSNY rules. FDNY Fire Code 3 RCNY 304 addresses combustible waste and prohibits accumulation of combustibles that could ignite. Storage of firewood or landscape materials must be set back from structures and property lines. During drought declarations by NYC DEP or NY State DEC, open-flame and outdoor burning restrictions can be enhanced. Residents of Queens neighborhoods adjacent to parks (Forest Hills, Kew Gardens, Woodhaven bordering Forest Park; Oakland Gardens, Bayside bordering Alley Pond Park) should be mindful of brush accumulation near park edges. FDNY responds to brush and grass fires in parks and vacant lots during dry periods.