Elizabeth, NJ Fire Regulations: Fire Pits & Backyard Fires (2026)

040 is satisfied. The provision requires that any charcoal or other fire kept for cooking or other purposes, when it is allowed at all, be kindled only in 'a proper receptacle designed for that purpose,' and that the receptacle sit at least ten feet from any combustible building or structure, counting both the property where the fire is located and adjoining properties. This is the operative setback for a backyard fire pit, chiminea or barbecue receptacle: a resident cannot simply dig a pit or set a portable fire bowl against a fence line or wooden deck within ten feet of a structure.

The section also bars adding flammable liquids, such as gasoline or lighter fluid refills, once the fire has already been ignited, a common cause of flash-burn injuries the fire official targets in inspections. This receptacle and setback rule sits within the broader Article IV amendments and supplements to the Fire Prevention Code, alongside related supplements on fire lanes, tank storage, and permit requirements for tents and pyrotechnics, all enforced by the fire official under the same chapter.