Miami Beach, FL Fire Regulations: Fire Pits & Backyard Fires (2026)

Section 50-10(g), inside Chapter 50's "Other permits and reviews" article, is the section that actually controls recreational fires and fire pit gatherings in the city: a bonfire permit from the fire department is required before the activity happens, with no carve-out in the text for backyard fire pits or beach bonfires held on private property. 00 fee set in appendix A covers plan review and inspection; the fire chief can add an extra charge for department staff who need to be present while the fire burns, the same structure used for the city's open burning, pyrotechnic and fireworks permits in the same section.

The general code does not spell out a minimum setback from structures or the property line for a fixed fire pit the way some cities' fire codes do; Miami Beach's Land Development Regulations, published separately from this general ordinance code, are where any dimensional siting standard for a fire pit installation would live. What the general code does fix is the enforcement consequence: any person who burns without the permit, lies to get one, or breaks a permit term is fined double the applicable fee under subsection 50-3(d), on top of whatever inspection costs already accrued, and appendix A rates are adjusted annually for the Consumer Price Index per subsection 50-10(m).

On the beach itself, bonfires face an added layer of restriction: Sec. 46-203(a)(2) of the marine turtle protection article separately bans "the building of campfires or bonfires" at nighttime during nesting season, April 1 through October 31, a prohibition that applies whether or not the fire department permit has been secured for the rest of the year.