Rowlett, TX Fire Regulations: Brush Clearance (2026)

Unlike wildfire-prone western jurisdictions, Rowlett has no published ordinance requiring homeowners to maintain a defined defensible-space clearance zone around their houses for wildfire protection. Rowlett is an established residential and commercial suburb in Dallas County on the shores of Lake Ray Hubbard, not a designated high-hazard wildland-urban interface community. The clearance rules that do apply are tied to fire devices: under the City's adopted fire code, a permanent fire pit must be 10 feet from structures or combustible material (Sec. 307.4.4) and a portable outdoor fireplace 15 feet (Sec. 307.4.3), and the area around a recreational fire must be kept clear so it stays contained. Overgrown lots, tall grass, and weeds are addressed separately under the City's nuisance and property-maintenance provisions rather than a wildfire brush mandate. Importantly, residents who clear brush cannot dispose of it by burning: Section 307.1.1 prohibits burning refuse, debris, and yard waste in the city limits, so cut brush must go to the City's brush/yard-waste collection. Residents with vegetation-management or fire-clearance questions should contact Rowlett Fire Rescue's fire marshal.