Fire pit rules in Baltimore, MD — also called outdoor burning, recreational fire, or open flame ordinances — cover fuel types, clearances, and when burning is allowed.
Baltimore tightly restricts open recreational fires within city limits. The Baltimore City Fire Department prohibits ground fires in dense residential zones. Approved propane and natural-gas pits are allowed with clearance requirements; wood-burning pits face the strictest standards.
Baltimore City Fire Code, adopted from the 2018 IFC Chapter 3, requires recreational fires to be at least 25 feet from any structure and contained in an approved appliance no larger than three feet in diameter. Burning yard waste, construction debris, or trash is prohibited. The Baltimore City Fire Department may impose seasonal bans during dry conditions. Apartments, rowhouses, and properties with combustible decks face additional restrictions; many BCFD inspectors enforce a de facto ban for attached dwellings under section 307.
Initial citation $250; repeat offenses up to $1,000. BCFD can order immediate extinguishment. Damage from spreading fire creates civil liability separate from code penalties.
Baltimore, MD
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See how Baltimore's fire pit rules rules stack up against other locations.
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