Fire pit rules in Farmington Hills, MI — also called outdoor burning, recreational fire, or open flame ordinances — cover fuel types, clearances, and when burning is allowed.
The Farmington Hills Fire Prevention Ordinance at Chapter 12 (Fire Prevention and Protection), Sec. 12-14, allows for small recreational fires at single-family homes only. The fire must be contained in an approved semi-enclosed device (manufactured outdoor fire pit, chiminea, or commercially produced wood-burning unit) using only seasoned firewood. The fire must be constantly attended, extinguishing equipment (garden hose, bucket of water, or portable fire extinguisher) must be immediately available, and a safe distance must be maintained from structures. When finished, the fire must be completely extinguished and the cooled coals stored in a metal container kept outside the home. Recreational fires at multi-family dwellings (apartments, condominiums, townhouses) are not permitted. No yard waste, refuse, leaves, or construction materials may be burned at any time. The Farmington Hills Fire Department (Fire Prevention Division 248-871-2820) enforces Chapter 12 under the 2015 Michigan Building Code (which adopts the 2015 IFC with state amendments via the Stille-DeRossett-Hale Single State Construction Code Act, MCL 125.1502).
Chapter 12 (Fire Prevention and Protection), Sec. 12-14 of the Farmington Hills Code of Ordinances regulates open burning and recreational fires within the city. The Farmington Hills Fire Department's official guidance is unambiguous: the ordinance allows for small recreational fires at single-family homes only, contained in an approved semi-enclosed device and using only seasoned firewood. Devices that qualify include manufactured outdoor fire pits, chimineas, ceramic outdoor fireplaces, and similar commercially produced wood-burning units. The fire must be constantly attended by a competent person of legal age, extinguishing equipment must be readily available at the burn site, and the device must be located a safe distance from any structure, deck, or combustible material. After use, residents must completely extinguish the fire and store the cooled coals in a metal container placed outside the home (never in plastic, paper, or directly against the structure). Recreational fires at multi-family dwellings, apartments, condominiums, and townhouses are prohibited - the Sec. 12-14 allowance is limited to single-family residential properties. Burning of yard waste (leaves, grass clippings, brush), refuse, household trash, or construction materials is prohibited in any device regardless of design. The Fire Prevention Division (248-871-2820) issues permits for any open burning not authorized as a recreational fire under Sec. 12-14. Michigan operates under the 2015 Michigan Building Code (2015 IBC base) and the 2015 Michigan Residential Code (2015 IRC base) adopted under MCL 125.1502 (Stille-DeRossett-Hale Single State Construction Code Act); the state has not yet adopted the 2018 or 2021 ICC cycles for the Building Code, although Chapter 11 (energy efficiency) of the Michigan Residential Code was updated to reflect the 2018 IRC effective 10/4/2021.
Sec. 12-14 violations are enforced by the Farmington Hills Fire Department Fire Prevention Division (248-871-2820). The city's official guidance: if the Fire Department responds to a home for an unauthorized open burn, the homeowner may be ticketed and may receive a cost recovery invoice from the Fire Department for the fire truck and firefighters dispatched to the violation. Common violations include burning yard waste or leaves in a fire pit, recreational fires at multi-family properties, unattended fires, fires within an unsafe distance of structures, and disposal of cooled coals in plastic containers or against the home. The Fire Prevention Division also enforces the Michigan-adopted IFC provisions on recreational fires.
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