Mesa, AZ Fire Regulations: Fire Pits & Backyard Fires (2026)
Fire pit rules in Mesa, AZ, also called outdoor burning, recreational fire, or open flame ordinances, cover fuel types, clearances, and when burning is allowed.
Key Facts
- Fire pits regulated?
- No - expressly exempt under § 932.2 exception 3
- Barbecue grills regulated?
- No - exempt under § 932.2 exceptions 2 and 3
- What IS regulated
- New wood-burning fireplaces/woodstoves need EPA-cert inserts
- Effective date of fireplace rule
- December 31, 1998
- Park fire pits
- Charcoal only, in designated pit/grill (§ 6-10-4(S))
Summary
Mesa's Fireplace Restrictions ordinance, which forces new wood-burning fireplaces and woodstoves to use EPA-certified inserts, expressly carves out fire pits and barbecue grills as "not regulated and are not prohibited by this section." No separate Mesa ordinance sets fire-pit setbacks or hours.
932.2 General. On or after December 31, 1998, no person, firm, or corporation shall construct or install a fireplace or a woodstove, and the city shall not approve or issue a permit to construct or install a fireplace or a woodstove, unless the fireplace or woodstove complies with one of the following: ... Exceptions: The following are not regulated and are not prohibited by this section: 1.Furnaces, boilers, incinerators, kilns, and other similar space-heating or industrial process equipment;2.Cook stoves, barbecue grills, and similar appliances designed primarily for cooking; and3.Fire pits, barbecue grills, and other outdoor fireplaces.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 22).
Full Breakdown
2, added to the Mesa Fire Code under Title 4, Chapter 3, bars anyone from constructing or installing a fireplace or woodstove after December 31, 1998 unless it has a permanent gas or electric log insert, or is EPA-certified (or equivalently tested/listed, or determined by the Maricopa County Air Pollution Control Officer to meet equivalent standards) under 40 CFR Part 60, Subpart AAA. 1 to include wood, coal, and other nongaseous or nonliquid fuels, plus wood or pellet stoves whether freestanding or fireplace-inserted. 2, does require a Building Safety Director permit before altering a fireplace built or installed since December 31, 1998, but that permit duty attaches to fireplaces and woodstoves, not to fire pits or grills, which the code exempts by name.
Because Mesa's own text draws this line rather than staying silent, this is a genuine local rule about fire pits: they are outside the fireplace ordinance's reach, with no citywide setback, hours-of-use, or fuel restriction imposed on them through Chapter 4-3. Anyone burning wood or solid fuel in a park-designated fire pit is instead subject to the separate park-use rule in Mesa City Code Section 6-10-4(S), which limits fires in parks to charcoal in a fire pit, grill, or Director-approved improvement.
Violations & Fines
There is no fire-pit-specific violation because Section 932.2's exceptions place fire pits, barbecue grills, and outdoor fireplaces outside that ordinance's scope. Violations attach only to noncompliant wood-burning fireplaces or woodstoves, which fall under the general Title 4 penalty (Section 4-1-9): a class one misdemeanor with a fine up to $2,500 and/or up to six months in jail.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Mesa require a permit for a backyard fire pit?
Is there a setback distance for fire pits in Mesa?
Can I use a fire pit in a Mesa city park?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Mesa
How Mesa compares: Cities with the Strictest Fire Pit Rules·Compare Mesa to another location·View the Arizona fire regulations overview
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Fire Pits & Backyard Fires in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Maricopa County handle fire pits & backyard fires.