Gaithersburg, MD Fire Regulations: Fire Pits & Backyard Fires (2026)
Fire pit rules in Gaithersburg, MD, also called outdoor burning, recreational fire, or open flame ordinances, cover fuel types, clearances, and when burning is allowed.
Key Facts
- Open fires
- City-provided fireplaces only
- Charcoal/gas grills
- Designated picnic areas only
- Personal grill setback
- 50 feet from grass, trees, structures
- Unattended fire
- Prohibited at any time
- Coal disposal
- Soaked cold, in receptacle or removed from park
Summary
Open fires in Gaithersburg city parks are limited to city-provided fireplaces, with charcoal and gas grills allowed only in designated picnic areas. City Code Section 15A-14 requires any personal grill to sit at least 50 feet from tall grass, tree lines or anything else that could catch fire, and bans leaving hot coals or an unattended fire on park property.
Fires shall be permitted only in fireplaces provided by the city for that purpose; except, that cooking on charcoal grills or stoves using gas or other liquid fuels shall be permitted in designated picnic areas. Personal grills shall be at least fifty (50) feet from any active area, tall grass, tree line, or any object, property, or structure that could be damaged by fire.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 52 Update 1).
Full Breakdown
Section 15A-14 regulates fires and cooking on all city park property under Chapter 15A. Subsection (a) allows picnicking and food preparation anywhere not posted off-limits by signage. Subsection (b) is the operative fire rule: open fires are permitted only in fireplaces the city itself provides, while charcoal grills or stoves burning gas or other liquid fuel may be used in designated picnic areas. Any personal grill must be set up at least fifty feet from an active-use area, tall grass, a tree line, or any object, property or structure a fire could damage. Subsection (c) requires personal grills to be placed near the city's own provided grills around the designated picnic pavilion, and reserves licensed commercial-grade grills for permit holders only.
The section is equally specific about extinguishing a fire. Subsection (d) requires that fires be doused with water and all coals thoroughly soaked and cooled before anyone leaves the site, and that cooled coals go only into a receptacle built for that purpose; if no such receptacle is available, the coals must be carried off city property entirely, never left on the ground or dumped in an ordinary trash can. Subsection (e) makes it unlawful to leave a fire, hot grill or hot ashes unattended for any reason, and subsection (f) bars using oil fryers or steamers in city parks without the city manager's approval.
Violations & Fines
A violation of Section 15A-14, including building a fire outside a city fireplace, placing a personal grill inside the fifty-foot buffer, or leaving hot coals unattended, is a municipal infraction under Section 15A-19. The mayor and city council set the civil fine by resolution, and the city manager may also order the person to extinguish the fire and leave the area.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I build a campfire in a Gaithersburg city park?
How far does my grill need to be from trees or grass in a Gaithersburg park?
Can I leave a fire pit and hot coals overnight in a park?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Gaithersburg
How Gaithersburg compares: Cities with the Strictest Fire Pit Rules·Compare Gaithersburg to another location·View the Maryland fire regulations overview
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