Bothell, WA Fire Regulations: Fire Pits & Backyard Fires (2026)

Bothell Municipal Code § 20.08.057 amends the International Fire Code for the City of Bothell. Subsection 307.2 says no permit is required for a recreational fire or portable outdoor fireplace, so the rules are about where and how, not paperwork. Subsection 307.4.1 states that bonfires are not allowed.

For a recreational fire, Subsection 307.4.2 requires a distance of 25 ft (7.62 m) from a structure or combustible material. Conditions which could cause a fire to spread within 25 ft of a structure must be eliminated before ignition, so dry brush and debris come out first. For portable outdoor fireplaces, Subsection 307.4.3 requires use in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions and a minimum distance of 15 ft (4.572 m) from a structure or combustible material. The exception is portable outdoor fireplaces used at one- and two-family dwellings, which are not held to the 15 ft distance, though they must still be used per the manufacturer's instructions as the section reads.

Attendance is covered by Subsection 307.5. Recreational fires and portable outdoor fireplaces must be constantly attended until the fire is extinguished. At least one portable fire extinguisher complying with IFC Section 906 with a minimum 4-A rating must be available for immediate use, or other approved on-site equipment such as dirt, sand, a water barrel, a garden hose or a water truck.

All of this yields to a burn ban. Under Subsection 307.2.1, if the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency issues an air quality burn ban or the Fire Department issues a fire safety burn ban, all fires are prohibited, and the property owner must check before lighting. The Fire Code Official can order any fire extinguished under Subsection 307.3 if it creates a hazard.