New Orleans, LA Fire Regulations: Fire Pits & Backyard Fires (2026)
Fire pit rules in New Orleans, LA, also called outdoor burning, recreational fire, or open flame ordinances, cover fuel types, clearances, and when burning is allowed.
Key Facts
- Minimum clearance from structures
- 10 feet
- Fuel allowed
- Solid fuel: wood or charcoal
- Supervision required
- Adult must attend at all times
- Equipment standard
- Must be UL-listed with spark arrester
- Permit needed for compliant use
- No
- Max fine for a code violation
- $500 / 6 months, per day
Summary
New Orleans allows recreational fires in portable chimineas and outdoor fireplaces without a burn permit, but only if an adult supervises, embers are contained by a spark arrester, the appliance is UL-listed, and it sits at least ten feet from any structure or combustible material.
307.4.3 Portable Chimneys (Chimineas) and Outdoor Fireplaces. The outdoor burning of solid fuel (e.g., wood, charcoal) in portable chimneys and outdoor fireplaces used solely for recreational purposes is allowed, provided that the following conditions are met: 1.Fire is supervised at all times by an adult and the smoke does not become a nuisance for adjacent property owners/occupants.2.Embers are contained within appliance by use of a spark arrester or similar device that prevents the embers from escaping.3.Appliance is Underwriters Laboratory (U.L.) listed.4.Appliance is used on a non-combustible surface and is a minimum of ten (10) feet away from all structures and combustible materials.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 116 Update 1).
Full Breakdown
3 carves recreational solid-fuel burning out from the city's general open-burning prohibition: burning wood or charcoal in a portable chiminea or outdoor fireplace used solely for recreational purposes is allowed, provided four conditions are met. An adult must supervise the fire at all times and keep smoke from becoming a nuisance to neighbors; the appliance must contain embers with a spark arrester or similar device; the appliance itself must be Underwriters Laboratory listed; and it must sit on a non-combustible surface at least ten feet from all structures and combustible materials.
3 applies specifically to chimineas and outdoor fireplaces, not to open ground fires or burn piles. 32 permit, no separate fire department permit is needed for backyard use, but the fire is still subject to enforcement as a public nuisance or a fire-code violation if it is left unattended or produces a nuisance for neighbors.
Violations & Fines
A chiminea or outdoor fireplace that lacks a spark arrester, isn't UL-listed, sits within ten feet of a structure or combustible material, or is left unsupervised or allowed to create a smoke nuisance falls outside the Section 307.4.3 allowance and is treated as prohibited open burning. General Fire Prevention Code violations under Section 109.4 carry a fine of up to $500 or up to six months imprisonment, with each day a violation continues after notice counted as a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit for a chiminea in New Orleans?
How far from my house does a fire pit need to be?
Can my neighbor complain about smoke from my chiminea?
What happens if my fire pit doesn't meet the rules?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in New Orleans
How New Orleans compares: Cities with the Strictest Fire Pit Rules·Compare New Orleans to another location·View the Louisiana fire regulations overview
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