Fire pit rules in Indianapolis, IN — also called outdoor burning, recreational fire, or open flame ordinances — cover fuel types, clearances, and when burning is allowed.
Indianapolis (Marion County) permits recreational and personal-comfort fires - including campfires, patio fire pits and chimineas - so long as the fire burns only wood products, does not create a nuisance or fire hazard, and is attended by a responsible person at all times until completely extinguished, under Revised Code Sec. 511-703.
Open burning is prohibited countywide except for the limited purposes listed in Marion County Revised Code Sec. 511-703 (Chapter 511, Air Pollution Control, Article VII). Subsection (3) expressly allows 'fires required for personal comfort' and recreational bonfires (sledding, ice skating, etc.), and subsection (2) allows camp fires and fires for cookouts - the category that covers backyard patio fire pits, chimineas and barbecue fires. Every allowed fire must burn only wood products, must not create a nuisance or fire hazard, and must be attended by a responsible person until fully out. Burning anything other than clean wood (leaves, garbage, lumber, furniture, tires, etc.) is illegal. Statewide, 326 IAC 4-1-3(c)(1) likewise exempts recreational and cooking fires using clean wood products, paper, charcoal or clean petroleum products, but the local Indianapolis ordinance controls within Marion County.
An ordinance-violation notice carries an admit-liability civil penalty of $50 under Sec. 511-709(a); substantial violations may be referred for administrative adjudication or civil enforcement, with fines not to exceed $2,500 for each violation and each day treated as a separate violation (Sec. 511-709(c)).
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
Indianapolis, IN
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