Nashua, NH Fire Regulations: Fire Pits & Backyard Fires (2026)
Fire pit rules in Nashua, NH, also called outdoor burning, recreational fire, or open flame ordinances, cover fuel types, clearances, and when burning is allowed.
Key Facts
- Permit required
- Fire Department, before any open fire
- Application lead time
- 24 hours in advance
- Allowed hours
- Dawn to dusk only
- Charcoal burner setback
- 5 feet from any building
- Maximum penalty
- $1,000 per day
Summary
Nashua requires a Fire Department permit before kindling any open fire on public or private property, with no burning allowed before dawn or after dusk.
No person shall kindle or cause to be burned any material in an open fire on public or private property without first obtaining a permit from the Fire Department, except as otherwise provided in this chapter.
§ 110-3. Conditions for issuance of permit. The following regulations shall govern the issuance of a permit under this chapter:
A. The fire chief or his deputy shall, prior to the issuance of a permit, make a determination that the burning contemplated will not endanger the public safety.
B. There shall be no fire before dawn or after dusk, and all permittees shall extinguish their fires prior to dusk.
C. All applications for permits must be submitted 24 hours prior to the issuance of the permit.
D. Cooking fires, other than charcoal, in metal stoves and masonry fireplaces require the issuance of a permit and shall be extinguished prior to dusk by the person responsible.
E. No permit shall be issued for the burning of materials which would create a violation of applicable air pollution control regulations.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4805762; v29 updated 2026-02-10; through 02-10-2026).
Full Breakdown
Nashua's open-burning ordinance treats a backyard fire pit or bonfire the same as any other open fire: § 110-2 bars kindling one on public or private property without a Fire Department permit. Applications must be submitted 24 hours in advance (§ 110-3(C)), the Fire Chief or a deputy must first find the burn won't endanger public safety (§ 110-3(A)), and every permitted fire is confined to daylight hours, none before dawn, and permittees must extinguish before dusk (§ 110-3(B)). Charcoal grills get their own five-foot setback from any combustible building under the City's amended Fire Prevention Code (§ 156-8, subsection Q, amending NFPA 1 § 3-4.7). Violations draw a fine of up to $1,000 per day.
Violations & Fines
Kindling an open fire without a Fire Department permit, or burning outside the dawn-to-dusk window, is punishable by up to $1,000 per day under §§ 110-6 and 1-12.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit for a backyard fire pit or bonfire in Nashua?
What hours can a permitted fire burn?
How close can a charcoal grill be to my house?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Nashua
How Nashua compares: Cities with the Strictest Fire Pit Rules·Compare Nashua to another location·View the New Hampshire fire regulations overview
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Fire Pits & Backyard Fires in Nearby Cities
How other cities in this county handle fire pits & backyard fires.