Birmingham, AL Fire Regulations: Fire Pits & Backyard Fires (2026)
Fire pit rules in Birmingham, AL, also called outdoor burning, recreational fire, or open flame ordinances, cover fuel types, clearances, and when burning is allowed.
Key Facts
- Allowed window
- Recreational burning generally Nov-Mar (JCDH ban Apr-Oct)
- Recreational fire size
- <= 3 ft diameter, <= 2 ft height (adopted Fire Code)
- State permit threshold
- Forestry permit required if fire > 1/4 acre (section 9-13-11)
- Permit line
- Alabama Forestry Commission (800) 392-5679 (free)
Summary
A backyard recreational fire in Birmingham is allowed mainly during the November-through-March window, because Jefferson County bans open outdoor burning (except cooking) from April through October. Recreational fires are defined and limited by the Alabama Fire Code that Birmingham adopts, and any burn of grassland or woodland over a quarter-acre requires a free permit number from the Alabama Forestry Commission first.
Alabama law (9-13-11) requires that you obtain a permit from the Alabama Forestry Commission to conduct a prescribed burn for silvicultural and agricultural purposes. If the proposed fire is less than 1/4 of an acre a permit is not necessary. Permits are issued through our dispatch center by calling (800) 392-5679. There are some County and City Laws that also restrict outdoor burning. Burners are responsible for contacting their local government for additional information.
Full Breakdown
Birmingham has no ordinance that flatly bans small backyard fires, but two layers of regulation control them. First, the Jefferson County Board of Health Air Pollution Control Rules (Chapter 5) prohibit outdoor burning April through October except for food preparation, so a pure recreational fire is generally only lawful November through March, and even then a JCDH authorization with strict location and equipment requirements applies. Second, Birmingham adopts the Alabama Fire Code (the International Fire Code) through Birmingham City Code section 7-1-8; under that code a 'recreational fire' is an outdoor fire with a total fuel area three feet or less in diameter and two feet or less in height burned for pleasure, religious, ceremonial, cooking, or warmth purposes, and it must be constantly attended with extinguishing means available.
For anything larger - burning new ground, a field, grasslands, or woodlands over a quarter-acre - Code of Alabama section 9-13-11 requires a burning permit number obtained in advance from the Alabama Forestry Commission, which warns that 'if the proposed fire is less than 1/4 of an acre a permit is not necessary' but is otherwise mandatory and free at (800) 392-5679.
Violations & Fines
A recreational or backyard fire that violates the April-October county ban may draw substantial JCDH monetary penalties. Burning woodland or grassland over a quarter-acre without the Forestry Commission permit number can be charged under Code of Alabama section 9-13-11 (misdemeanor, with felony exposure if another's land is burned).
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I have a backyard bonfire or campfire in Birmingham?
Do I need a permit for a small backyard fire?
Is a cooking fire treated differently?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Birmingham
How Birmingham compares: Cities with the Strictest Fire Pit Rules·Compare Birmingham to another location·View the Alabama fire regulations overview
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