Alachua County, FL Fire Regulations: Fire Pits & Backyard Fires (2026)
Fire pit rules in Alachua County, FL, also called outdoor burning, recreational fire, or open flame ordinances, cover fuel types, clearances, and when burning is allowed.
Key Facts
- Exempt fire size during a ban
- Fuel area ≤3 ft diameter, ≤2 ft height
- Ban activation trigger
- Keetch Byram Drought Index ≥ 500
- Ban duration
- 7 days from issuance, renewable
- Applies to
- Unincorporated county + contracted municipalities
- Enforcing agencies
- Fire Rescue, Environmental Protection, code enforcement
- Liability
- Damages plus fire suppression costs
Summary
Alachua County bans virtually all open fires, including backyard campfires and bonfires, once the Fire Chief activates an emergency burn ban triggered by drought conditions. During an active ban, only barbecue grills or fire pits with a fuel area no larger than three feet in diameter and two feet in height are exempt from the prohibition, per Alachua County Code § 362.55.
The following activities are exempted from burn bans unless otherwise stated in the ban:(1)Public or private fireworks displays done by licensed contractors who have obtained permits from Alachua County or any municipality included in the ban:(2)Use of barbeque grills or barbeque pits where the total fuel area does not exceed three (3) feet in diameter and two (2) feet in height: and(3)Any other activity for which a valid state open burn authorization has been issued by Florida Forestry Service, Department of Environmental Protection, or the City of Gainesville.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 63).
Full Breakdown
57) governs backyard and recreational fires through its Emergency Burn Ban. 53(2). 54(1). " Outside of an active ban, this article does not set a separate year-round size cap on residential fires; the size limit is specifically the exemption threshold that keeps a backyard fire lawful once a ban is in force. 56, so residents inside city limits with their own fire department should check municipal rules instead.
Violations & Fines
Enforcement falls to Alachua County Fire Rescue, the Environmental Protection Department, and the Growth Management Department's code enforcement office, § 362.57(1). A violator is liable for all damages caused by an unlawful fire, including the county's costs of suppressing and extinguishing it, and that liability extends to any person, firm, or corporation causing, directing, or permitting the fire, not just the person who lit it, § 362.57(2)(a). Violations are also separately punishable under the general penalty provisions of Chapter 24 of the Alachua County Code, § 362.57(2)(b).
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I have a campfire or bonfire in my backyard during a burn ban?
What size fire pit or grill is allowed during a burn ban?
How long does an Alachua County burn ban last?
Who enforces the burn ban and what happens if I violate it?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Alachua County
How Alachua County compares: Cities with the Strictest Fire Pit Rules·Florida rules heatmap·Compare Alachua County to another location·View the Florida fire regulations overview
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