Fire pit rules in Henrico County, VA — also called outdoor burning, recreational fire, or open flame ordinances — cover fuel types, clearances, and when burning is allowed.
A patio fire pit, chiminea, or outdoor fireplace needs no county permit but must be attended and kept clear of combustibles. Open recreational fires must stay under 3 feet wide and 2 feet high and sit 25 feet from structures.
Henrico's Fire Marshal treats patio fireplaces, chimineas, and fire pits as controlled burning devices that fall outside the open-burning permit rules, but they must be used cautiously with constant attendance and kept away from combustible materials and structures. A recreational fire (fuel not contained in a grill or fireplace) is capped at 3 feet in diameter and 2 feet in height, must sit 25 feet from any structure, and is banned during VDEQ impaired-air-quality periods or a county drought declaration under § 11-19.
If smoke causes an objectionable odor or a hazard, the fire department will have you extinguish the fire. Open burning during a declared drought is unlawful under § 11-19.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
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