Kalamazoo, MI Fire Regulations: Fire Pits & Backyard Fires (2026)
Fire pit rules in Kalamazoo, MI, also called outdoor burning, recreational fire, or open flame ordinances, cover fuel types, clearances, and when burning is allowed.
Key Facts
- Permit needed
- Yes, unless nine no-permit conditions are met
- Max fire size
- 3 ft by 3 ft by 3 ft
- Clearance from structures
- 15 feet minimum
- Max firewood diameter
- 3 inches
- Waste in fire pit
- Garbage and leaves prohibited
- Governing section
- Amended IFC Section 307.4.2
Summary
In the City of Kalamazoo, a recreational fire needs a fire-code permit unless it burns in an approved outdoor device at a single- or two-family home, kept 15 feet from any structure, no larger than three feet by three feet by three feet, screened, and watched with a garden hose ready. Burning garbage, leaves, or other waste in the pit is banned.
Section 307 is hereby amended to revise Section 307.4.2 to read as follows: Recreational fires. A permit shall be obtained from the fire code official prior to conducting a recreational fire. Exception. Recreational fires may be conducted without a permit in an approved outdoor device in accordance to manufacturer's instructions at single- and two-family dwellings on a single parcel under the following conditions: 1. The device shall have a screen cover that aids in the protection to contain burning particulate from escaping into the atmosphere. 2. The device shall be 15 feet from any structure or combustibles. 3. A person shall have a garden hose connected to a reliable water source readily available for use. 4. The size of the fire shall be no larger than three feet by three feet by three feet. 5. Firewood being burned shall not have a diameter larger than three inches in diameter. ... ... 7. The burning of garbage, leaves, or other waste material is prohibited.
Full Breakdown
Amended Section 307.4.2 of the Fire Prevention Code requires a permit from the fire code official before conducting a recreational fire, defined by Section 202 as a noncommercial fire for pleasure, ceremonial, cooking, or similar purposes contained in a fire pit or commercial outdoor fireplace no more than three feet in diameter. The code carves out a no-permit exception at single- and two-family dwellings on a single parcel, using an approved outdoor device per the manufacturer's instructions, if nine conditions are met: the device has a screen cover to contain burning particulate; it sits at least 15 feet from any structure or combustible material; a connected garden hose with a reliable water source is on hand; the fire itself is no larger than three feet by three feet by three feet; firewood burned is no more than three inches in diameter; the fire creates no foul odor or offensive smoke to neighboring occupants; garbage, leaves, or other waste is never burned in it; a Public Safety Officer can order it extinguished if it becomes hazardous or a nuisance; and a competent person must attend the fire until it is fully out.
A separate amended Section 307.4.3 imposes the same permit-or-15-foot-clearance structure on portable outdoor fireplaces. Violating either provision falls under the article's general misdemeanor penalty in § 15-47, punishable by up to 90 days in jail or a $500 fine, enforced by the Bureau of Fire Prevention within the Department of Public Safety.
Violations & Fines
A recreational fire or portable outdoor fireplace run outside the no-permit conditions, or without the required fire-code permit, is enforced as a misdemeanor under § 15-47: up to 90 days in jail, a fine of up to $500, or both, with each day of continued violation a separate offense. A Public Safety Officer may also order an unattended or hazardous fire extinguished on the spot.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit for a backyard fire pit in Kalamazoo?
How close can my fire pit be to my house or my neighbor's fence?
Can Public Safety make me put out my fire pit?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Kalamazoo
How Kalamazoo compares: Cities with the Strictest Fire Pit Rules·Compare Kalamazoo to another location·View the Michigan fire regulations overview
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