Colorado Springs, CO Fire Regulations: Fire Pits & Backyard Fires (2026)

Under the CSFD Outdoor Burning Guidelines, recreational fires are any outdoor fire or campfire where the fire is not contained in a portable or fixed fireplace or appliance. A recreational fire must have 25 feet of clearance from combustible structures, fences, or vegetation; cannot exceed 3 feet in diameter and 2 feet in height; and wood is the only allowable fuel. The fire must not at any point move any closer to the structure than the stated 25-foot distance. CSFD defines a fire for the purposes of cooking, warmth, religious, pleasure, ceremonial, or other special purposes as a recreational fire or bonfire.

While the fire is burning it must be constantly attended by someone who is conscious, and a means of extinguishment (water hose line, buckets of water, or large buckets of sand) must be ready. No permit is required for a recreational fire (unlike a bonfire), but recreational fires are suspended during a burn ban. Outdoor BBQ grills fueled by wood, pellets, charcoal, propane, natural gas, or liquid fuel must have 15 feet of clearance from combustible structures, fences, or vegetation, with no clearance requirement for single-family homes or duplexes.