Fire pit rules in Maricopa, AZ — also called outdoor burning, recreational fire, or open flame ordinances — cover fuel types, clearances, and when burning is allowed.
A backyard fire pit in Maricopa is treated as a recreational fire. Pinal County Air Quality exempts recreational fires no larger than 3 feet in diameter and 2 feet high, so no burn permit is needed. The City's adopted Fire Code (2024 IFC, Section 307) requires recreational fires to be kept 25 feet from any structure or combustible material.
The City of Maricopa adopts the International Fire Code (2024 edition) under City Code Section 15.05.120. Under IFC Section 307, a 'recreational fire' is an outdoor fire burning materials other than rubbish, with a total fuel area 3 feet or less in diameter, used for cooking, warmth, or similar purposes. Pinal County Air Quality Control District, which regulates open burning where Maricopa sits, exempts recreational fires used for 'religious, ceremonial, cooking, or warmth' with a fuel area '3 feet or less in diameter and 2 feet or less in height' from any burn permit. So a typical store-bought fire pit or chiminea burning clean, dry wood or charcoal needs no permit. The adopted fire code still imposes safety distances: a recreational fire must not be conducted within 25 feet of a structure or combustible material, and a manufactured portable outdoor fireplace must not be operated within 15 feet of a structure (with an exception for one- and two-family dwellings). Burn only clean dry wood or charcoal - not trash, leaves, or yard waste, which require a separate Pinal County burn permit. Open burning of any kind is prohibited when atmospheric conditions or local circumstances make fires hazardous, and the fire code official may order any fire extinguished. Keep a hose or extinguisher within reach and never leave a fire unattended.
The fire code official may order the extinguishment of any recreational fire that is hazardous, oversized, or burning prohibited materials. Burning yard waste or trash without the proper Pinal County permit can trigger county air-quality enforcement, which carries civil penalties of up to $10,000 per day for open-burning violations.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
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