Denton, TX Fire Regulations: Fire Pits & Backyard Fires (2026)
Fire pit rules in Denton, TX, also called outdoor burning, recreational fire, or open flame ordinances, cover fuel types, clearances, and when burning is allowed.
Key Facts
- Recreational fires
- banned citywide
- Bonfires
- barbecue pit + 300 ft only
- Open burning setback
- 300 ft from structures
- Max fine
- $2,000 (fire safety violation)
- Governing code
- 2021 IFC as amended
Summary
Recreational fires, including backyard fire pits and campfire-style gatherings, are banned everywhere inside Denton's city limits under the locally amended fire code, with only a narrow bonfire exception.
307.4.1 Bonfires. A bonfire shall not be conducted within 300 feet (91,440 mm) of a structure or combustible material unless the fire is contained in a barbecue pit. Conditions that could cause a fire to spread within 300 feet (91,440 mm) of a structure shall be eliminated prior to ignition. 307.4.2 Recreational fires. Recreational fires are prohibited within the incorporated city limits of Denton, Texas.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 37 Update 1 | Development Code: Supplement 27).
Full Breakdown
Denton's amended fire code flatly prohibits recreational fires, the kind used for backyard fire pits, chimineas, or campfire-style gatherings, anywhere inside the incorporated city limits, per Section 307.4.2 of the 2021 International Fire Code as locally amended. Bonfires get a narrower carve-out: they're allowed only if contained in a barbecue pit and kept at least 300 feet from any structure or combustible material, with conditions that could spread fire eliminated before ignition. Open burning must stay at least 300 feet from structures, dropping to 15 feet for fires in an approved container. The fire marshal enforces the code through the municipal court.
Violations & Fines
Violating the recreational-fire ban is a fire safety offense under the Code's general penalty section, punishable by a fine up to $2,000, with each day of a continuing violation counted as a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I have a fire pit in my backyard in Denton?
Are bonfires allowed anywhere in Denton?
What's the penalty for an illegal fire pit or bonfire?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Denton
How Denton compares: Cities with the Strictest Fire Pit Rules·Texas rules heatmap·Compare Denton to another location·View the Texas fire regulations overview
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Fire Pits & Backyard Fires in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Denton County handle fire pits & backyard fires.