Fayetteville, AR Fire Regulations: Fire Pits & Backyard Fires (2026)
Fire pit rules in Fayetteville, AR, also called outdoor burning, recreational fire, or open flame ordinances, cover fuel types, clearances, and when burning is allowed.
Key Facts
- Burn Permit
- Not required
- Attendance
- Responsible adult, always
- Code Section
- Fayetteville Sec. 94.03
- Burn Ban
- Suspends all fires
Summary
Backyard recreational fires and portable outdoor fireplaces are legal in Fayetteville without a burn permit, but a responsible adult must tend the fire at all times and the Mayor can suspend them with a Burn Ban Order during dry conditions.
Allowing fire to escape from the control of the person building or having charge of the fire, or to spread to the lands of any person other than the builder of the fire.
Full Breakdown
Fayetteville adopts the Arkansas Fire Prevention Code, which treats a contained recreational fire or portable outdoor fireplace burning clean wood differently from open burning of yard debris, so a small backyard fire pit needs no residential burn permit. It must be attended continuously by a responsible adult with a way to extinguish it kept close. Under Fayetteville Code Sec. 94.03, letting a fire escape your control, or spread to a neighbor's land, is a misdemeanor, and a person responsible for fire that damages another pays double damages. During drought the Mayor issues a Burn Ban Order that halts open flames citywide, and the Fire Chief can prohibit fires when conditions are hazardous.
Violations & Fines
Letting a recreational fire escape or spread is a misdemeanor under Sec. 94.03, citable by the Fire Marshal, and the responsible person owes double damages plus fire-suppression costs to anyone harmed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit for a backyard fire pit in Fayetteville?
Can I use my fire pit during a burn ban?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Fayetteville
How Fayetteville compares: Cities with the Strictest Fire Pit Rules·Compare Fayetteville to another location·View the Arkansas fire regulations overview
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Fire Pits & Backyard Fires in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Washington County handle fire pits & backyard fires.