Bannock County, ID Fire Regulations: Fire Pits & Backyard Fires (2026)
Fire pit rules in Bannock County, ID, also called outdoor burning, recreational fire, or open flame ordinances, cover fuel types, clearances, and when burning is allowed.
Key Facts
- Size cap
- 3 ft diameter, 2 ft height
- Setback
- 25 ft from structures, waived in a barbecue pit
- Permit needed
- No, exempt under § 8.16.060(A)
- Equipment required
- Buckets, shovels or garden hose
- Attendance
- Constant supervision until out
- Shutdown authority
- Fire chief or sheriff, any time
Summary
Recreational fires in unincorporated Bannock County, capped at three feet across and two feet high, don't need a burn permit, but Code § 8.16.100 requires them to sit 25 feet from any structure or combustible material unless they're inside a barbecue pit, with someone tending the fire at all times.
"Recreational fire" means the burning of materials other than rubbish where fuel being burned is not contained in an incinerator, outdoor fireplace or barbecue pit and with a total fuel area of three feet or less in diameter and two feet or less in height for pleasure, religious, ceremonial, cooking or similar purposes. ... A.Location. Recreational fires shall not be conducted within twenty-five (25) feet of a structure or combustible material unless contained in a barbecue pit. Conditions which could cause a fire to spread to within twenty-five (25) feet of a structure shall be eliminated prior to ignition.B.Fire-Extinguishing Equipment. Buckets, shovels or garden hoses shall be readily available for use at recreational fires.C.Attendance. Recreational fires shall be constantly attended by a person knowledgeable in the use of fire-extinguishing equipment required by this section. An attendant shall supervise a recreational fire until such fire has been extinguished.D.Discontinuance. The agency issuing the permit is authorized to require that recreational fires be immediately discontinued if such fires are determined by that agency to constitute a hazardous condition.
Full Breakdown
Section 8.16.020 defines a "recreational fire" as an open flame not contained in an incinerator, outdoor fireplace or barbecue pit, burning materials other than rubbish, with a total fuel area of three feet or less in diameter and two feet or less in height, for pleasure, religious, ceremonial, cooking or similar purposes; § 8.16.060(A) exempts these fires from the county's burn permit requirement. Section 8.16.100 then sets the operating rules. Subsection A bars locating the fire within 25 feet of a structure or combustible material unless it's contained in a barbecue pit, and requires clearing away anything within that 25 feet that could let the fire spread before lighting it.
Subsection B requires buckets, shovels or a garden hose on hand and ready to use. Subsection C requires a person knowledgeable in using that equipment to constantly attend the fire until it is fully extinguished. Subsection D lets the agency that would issue a permit, the local fire district chief or the county sheriff outside a district, order a recreational fire immediately put out if it is judged hazardous. These rules sit inside Chapter 8.16, Open Burning, which under § 8.16.010 applies only in the unincorporated area outside any city's limits.
Violations & Fines
Failing to keep the required 25-foot clearance, extinguishing equipment or an attendant is a violation of Chapter 8.16 and a misdemeanor under § 8.16.110, on top of civil liability for any fire suppression costs the person responsible causes. The issuing agency can also order the fire discontinued on the spot under § 8.16.100(D) if it becomes hazardous.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit for a backyard fire pit in unincorporated Bannock County?
How far from my house does the fire pit have to sit?
What do I need on hand while it's burning?
Can the county make me put my fire pit out?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Bannock County
How Bannock County compares: Cities with the Strictest Fire Pit Rules·Compare Bannock County to another location·View the Idaho fire regulations overview
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