Fire pit rules in Knox County, TN — also called outdoor burning, recreational fire, or open flame ordinances — cover fuel types, clearances, and when burning is allowed.
Recreational fire pits and portable outdoor fireplaces are allowed in Knox County without an open-burning permit as a 'recreational fire.' Under the adopted 2018 International Fire Code, keep recreational fires 25 feet from any structure and portable fireplaces 15 feet away.
Knox County allows recreational and cooking fires without an air-quality open-burning permit, so a backyard fire pit is generally fine. The county enforces the 2018 International Fire Code, whose Section 307 governs recreational fires: a recreational fire (not for waste disposal, under 3 feet in diameter and 2 feet tall) must be at least 25 feet from any structure or combustible material, and a manufactured portable outdoor fireplace must be at least 15 feet from a structure. Fires must be constantly attended until fully extinguished, with a hose, bucket, or extinguisher available. Burning trash, leaves, or construction debris in a fire pit is prohibited by county air-quality rules.
Fire code violations can be abated by the fire marshal; improper open burning of prohibited materials is enforced by Knox County Air Quality with penalties up to $25,000 per day.
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