Evansville, IN Fire Regulations: Fire Pits & Backyard Fires (2026)
Fire pit rules in Evansville, IN, also called outdoor burning, recreational fire, or open flame ordinances, cover fuel types, clearances, and when burning is allowed.
Key Facts
- Burn-ban exception
- patio firepits and chimineas stay legal
- Size cap
- 3 feet diameter, 2 feet high
- Setback
- 100 feet from fuel storage/pipeline
- Sections
- EMC 16.05.200(B)(11)(a) and (C)(3)
- Ordinance
- G-2024-2, passed Feb. 28, 2024
Summary
Patio fire pits and chimineas stay legal in Evansville even when the City declares an open burning ban, but any recreational fire, pit or not, is capped at three feet across and must stay 100 feet from fuel storage.
During a burn ban, only fires in indoor heating units, outdoor cooking grills, patio fireplaces, patio firepits or chimineas are permitted. ... The fire shall be no larger than three feet in diameter and two feet high in size. ... The fire shall not take place within 100 feet of any fuel storage area or pipeline.
Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: current through Ordinance G-2026-12, passed June 22, 2026).
Full Breakdown
Under EMC 16.05.200(B)(11)(a), when Evansville's Climate Collaborative Director or Fire Department declares an open burning ban for unfavorable conditions, only fires in indoor heating units, outdoor cooking grills, patio fireplaces, patio firepits, or chimineas may still burn; open ground fires are shut down during the ban. Even outside a ban, a fire pit used for recreation falls under the general recreational-fire standard in EMC 16.05.200(C)(3): no larger than three feet in diameter and two feet high, not ignited more than two hours before use, extinguished when the activity ends, not used for trash disposal, and kept at least 100 feet from any fuel storage area or pipeline.
Violations & Fines
A fire pit that exceeds the size limit, sits within 100 feet of a fuel storage area, or burns during a ban outside the patio-firepit exception can draw a citation and fines under EMC 16.05.510.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I still use my fire pit during an Evansville burn ban?
How far does a fire pit need to be from a propane tank in Evansville?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Evansville
How Evansville compares: Cities with the Strictest Fire Pit Rules·Compare Evansville to another location·View the Indiana fire regulations overview
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