Maui County, HI Fire Regulations: Fire Pits & Backyard Fires (2026)
Fire pit rules in Maui County, HI, also called outdoor burning, recreational fire, or open flame ordinances, cover fuel types, clearances, and when burning is allowed.
Key Facts
- Approval required from
- Dept. of Health Clean Air Branch
- Covers
- Recreational, decorative, and ceremonial fires
- Governing section
- Maui County Code § 16.04E.220
- Related rule
- § 16.04E.210 covers ordinary cooking fires
- Penalty
- Up to $2,500 fine or 30 days jail
Summary
Maui County requires Department of Health Clean Air Branch approval for any fire lit for recreational, decorative, or ceremonial purposes, under section 16.04E.220 of the fire code. That approval requirement applies on top of, not instead of, the general cooking-fire rule in section 16.04E.210.
10.10.1.2.1 Fires for recreational, decorative, or ceremonial purposes must be approved by the department of health clean air branch.
Full Breakdown
1 to the County's amended NFPA 1 fire code. As printed, it states that fires for recreational, decorative, or ceremonial purposes must be approved by the Department of Health Clean Air Branch, a state agency, before they're lit. 210, which exempts ordinary cooking and recreational fires from needing a County fire prevention bureau permit but still requires compliance with the same DOH clean-air rules; read together, the two sections mean an ordinary backyard fire pit used for basic cooking or warmth does not need a County permit, but a fire whose purpose is decorative, ceremonial, or purely recreational, such as a luau bonfire, torch-lighting ceremony, or landscape fire feature, needs DOH Clean Air Branch sign-off.
170, so a fire that lacks the required DOH approval, burns prohibited material, or creates a hazard can be ordered extinguished and can draw a fine. 230, so setback compliance for open flame features depends on the DOH approval terms and any separate building or zoning conditions imposed for the specific device or feature.
Violations & Fines
Lighting a decorative, ceremonial, or recreational-purpose fire without the required Department of Health Clean Air Branch approval exposes the responsible party to a notice of violation under section 16.04E.170, carrying a fine up to $2,500 or 30 days in jail, or both, at $1,000 per day for a first offense and $2,500 per day for a repeat violation within five years.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need approval to light a ceremonial bonfire on Maui?
Is a regular backyard fire pit for cooking treated the same as a ceremonial fire?
What agency enforces Maui's rules on decorative and ceremonial fires?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Maui County
How Maui County compares: Cities with the Strictest Fire Pit Rules·Compare Maui County to another location·View the Hawaii fire regulations overview
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