Coeur d'Alene, ID Fire Regulations: Fire Pits & Backyard Fires (2026)

Coeur d'Alene Municipal Code § 4.25.050 is the City's open-fire rule for public land. It reaches three acts: making an open fire, using one, and having one, so a fire that someone else lit and left burning still counts against the person who has it. The covered ground is any City owned, leased or maintained beach, natural area, park, playground or play field.

Two doors are open. A fire is lawful in a designated barbecue area, and a fire is lawful when the Fire Chief or his or her designee has authorized it by permit. The section says nothing about fire pit size, distance from structures, or fuel, so the operative tests are location and permission.

Stricter rules sit on top in specific places. Section 4.25.060 prohibits smoking and all activities capable of generating an open flame in all City owned, leased or maintained natural areas, with no barbecue-area exception in that text. Section 4.25.070 bars fireworks of any kind on City beaches, natural areas, parks, playgrounds, play fields, docks and parking facilities, except as part of a public display authorized by the chapter. Parks also close between 11:00 P.M. and 5:00 A.M. under § 4.25.100, and no person can be on public property during closed hours except for transit on a paved trail or sidewalk. The camping section, § 4.25.090, lists cooking over an open flame or fire out of doors in its definition of camping, but it excepts sleeping or cooking in a public park or beach on a temporary basis, during normal hours of operation, in conjunction with the recreational use of the park or beach.

Backyards are a different question. Section 4.25.050 is written for City property. The other burning provision in the code, § 8.04.070, makes it unlawful to burn garbage or refuse within the municipal limits of the City of Coeur d'Alene, except brush, grass, weeds, and cuttings from trees, lawns or gardens, which can be burned only at times provided by the mayor and city council by motion or resolution, or by permit issued by the fire chief.