Lubbock, TX Fire Regulations: Fire Pits & Backyard Fires (2026)
Fire pit rules in Lubbock, TX, also called outdoor burning, recreational fire, or open flame ordinances, cover fuel types, clearances, and when burning is allowed.
Key Facts
- Setback
- 10 feet from structure/combustible material
- Exception
- IRC/IBC-compliant permanent fireplaces
- Fire code base
- 2021 International Fire Code, as amended
- Enforcement
- City of Lubbock Fire Marshal
- Appeals
- City building board of appeals
Summary
Lubbock's fire code amendments spell out exactly how close a backyard firepit can sit to the house. Under the city's amendment to International Fire Code § 307.4.4, a permanently installed outdoor firepit built for recreational fires can't go up within 10 feet of a structure or anything combustible, with an exception for code-built fireplaces.
(9) Location open burning. 307.4, 307.4.1, and 307.4.4 are hereby amended to read as follows: 307.4 Location. The location for open burning shall not be less than 300 feet (91 440 mm) from any structure, and provisions shall be made to prevent the fire from spreading to within 300 feet (91 440 mm) of any structure. ... 307.4.4 Permanent Outdoor Firepit. Permanently installed outdoor firepits for recreational fire purposes shall not be installed within 10 feet of a structure or combustible material. Exception: Permanently installed outdoor fireplaces constructed in accordance with the International Residential Code or International Building Code.
Full Breakdown
002. 4. 4 as amended, reads: "Permanently installed outdoor firepits for recreational fire purposes shall not be installed within 10 feet of a structure or combustible material," with a stated exception for "permanently installed outdoor fireplaces constructed in accordance with the International Residential Code or International Building Code," meaning a code-compliant masonry or manufactured outdoor fireplace is judged under the building code's construction standards rather than the 10-foot firepit setback. 1 holds bonfires to that same 300-foot line unless the fire sits inside a barbecue pit.
A permanent firepit, being installed hardware rather than an open bonfire, gets the much shorter 10-foot distance instead of the 300-foot open-burning setback. 004, hears appeals from fire code determinations.
Violations & Fines
A firepit installed inside the 10-foot buffer violates the amended IFC § 307.4.4 and is enforced by the fire marshal's office as a fire code violation. Section 10.03.002 sets no article-specific fine, so noncompliance falls under the code's general penalty, § 1.01.004, exposing the property owner to a municipal-court fine and, for a continuing hazard, a separate offense for each day the firepit remains within the setback until it's moved or removed.
Frequently Asked Questions
How far must a firepit be from my house in Lubbock?
Does a built-in outdoor fireplace follow the same 10-foot rule?
Is a firepit treated the same as a bonfire under Lubbock's fire code?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Lubbock
How Lubbock compares: Cities with the Strictest Fire Pit Rules·Texas rules heatmap·Compare Lubbock to another location·View the Texas fire regulations overview
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