Ulster County, NY Fire Regulations: Fire Pits & Backyard Fires (2026)
Fire pit rules in Ulster County, NY, also called outdoor burning, recreational fire, or open flame ordinances, cover fuel types, clearances, and when burning is allowed.
Key Facts
- Permit needed for fire pits
- No: expressly exempt
- Governing rule
- FCNYS § 307, adopted locally
- Applies via
- opted-in localities & county land
- Citation
- Ulster County Code § 166-11
Summary
Ulster County's Fire Code operating-permit rule for open burning specifically excludes recreational fires and portable outdoor fireplaces, so backyard fire pits do not need a county burning permit.
Operating permits shall be required for conducting any process or activity or for operating any type of building, structure, or facility listed below... Section 307, "Open Burning, Recreational Fires and Portable Outdoor Fireplaces." Conducting open burning, not including recreational fires and portable outdoor fireplaces;
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4818905; v25 updated 2025-11-18; through 11-18-2025).
Full Breakdown
Where Ulster County's Code Enforcement Officer administers the Fire Code of New York State, in localities that opted into county code enforcement and on county-owned property, Section 307 of that code requires an operating permit for open burning. The chapter carves recreational fires and portable outdoor fireplaces out of that permit requirement entirely, along with fumigation performed by a homeowner and welding done by an occupant of a one- or two-family home. The exemption covers only the county permit scheme; state Fire Code safety standards for recreational fires, and any separate local fire-district rule, still apply.
Violations & Fines
Using a fire pit or portable outdoor fireplace is not itself a permit violation under this chapter; burning debris, brush, or other open fires outside that exemption without an operating permit is.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to use a fire pit in Ulster County?
Does this exemption apply everywhere in the county?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Ulster County
How Ulster County compares: Cities with the Strictest Fire Pit Rules·New York rules heatmap·Compare Ulster County to another location·View the New York fire regulations overview
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