Alexandria, VA Fire Regulations: Fire Pits & Backyard Fires (2026)

The city's Fire Prevention Code, adopted at City Code Section 4-2-12 and locally amended at Section 4-2-21, governs every open flame kindled outdoors, including backyard fire pits, chimineas and recreational bonfires. 1 states flatly that a person shall not cause or allow open burning unless approved in accordance with this code and the city's air pollution control code, and bars kindling or maintaining any fire in a manner that constitutes a danger to public health and safety as determined by the fire official. 1 layers on a weather-based ban: open burning is prohibited whenever atmospheric conditions or local circumstances make such fires hazardous, a call the fire official makes case by case.

1). 2 carries only one carve-out for a live outdoor fire: approved outdoor live fire-training performed by the Alexandria Fire Department. 2 permit is operating outside the code regardless of the fire's size. 1, hears disputes over a permit denial or hazard determination. 15 makes every collected fee non-refundable once the required inspection is completed.