Brevard County, FL Fire Regulations: Fire Pits & Backyard Fires (2026)
Fire pit rules in Brevard County, FL, also called outdoor burning, recreational fire, or open flame ordinances, cover fuel types, clearances, and when burning is allowed.
Key Facts
- Trigger threshold
- KBDI drought index at or above 500
- Exempt
- Barbecue grills and state-permitted burns
- Penalty
- Up to $500 fine and 60 days jail
- Enforcement
- Sheriff, fire prevention and code enforcement officers
- Ban lifts
- When drought index falls below 450
Summary
Brevard County bans campfires, bonfires and open burning in unincorporated areas whenever the Keetch-Byram Drought Index hits 500 or the county chair declares a burn ban: violators face up to $500 and 60 days in jail.
Open burning (to include campfires, bonfires, trash-burning and other similar open incineration) is hereby prohibited when the following conditions are present:(1)The Keetch Byram Drought Index County Averages map, as published by the Florida Forest Service (or future state office or agency which provides drought information), calculation for Brevard County meets or exceeds 500; or(2)The chair or (where the chair is unavailable) the acting chair, in consultation with the county policy group (if activated) or (where the policy group is not activated) the county manager or designee, orders open burnings and the sale and use of fireworks (as defined in F.S. § 791.01) prohibited. Such prohibitions do not include state-permitted burns, use of barbeque grills, authorized public fireworks displays and fireworks sales which are authorized by state law, including where the wholesale seller directly ships such fireworks outside of the county, without the purchaser participating in any such shipment, except the purchaser may pay for the costs of shipping.
Such prohibition shall remain in effect until suspended as provided [in] subsection (e).
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 135).
Full Breakdown
Under Brevard County Code § 50-1, open burning, including campfires, bonfires and trash burning, is banned in unincorporated Brevard whenever the Florida Forest Service's Keetch Byram Drought Index for the county reaches 500, or when the county chair declares a ban in consultation with the county manager. Barbecue grills and state-permitted burns are exempt, so a backyard fire pit is legal outside a declared ban. The sheriff, fire prevention and code enforcement officers enforce the rule; violators face up to a $500 fine, 60 days in jail, or both. Bans lift once the drought index falls below 450.
Violations & Fines
Violating the open-burning ban is punishable under Code § 1-7 or F.S. § 125.69(1): up to a $500 fine, 60 days in county jail, or both, per conviction.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I have a fire pit in unincorporated Brevard County?
Are backyard barbecue grills covered by the burn ban?
What happens if I burn during a ban?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Brevard County
How Brevard County compares: Cities with the Strictest Fire Pit Rules·Florida rules heatmap·Compare Brevard County to another location·View the Florida fire regulations overview
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