North Charleston, SC Fire Regulations: Fire Pits & Backyard Fires (2026)
Fire pit rules in North Charleston, SC, also called outdoor burning, recreational fire, or open flame ordinances, cover fuel types, clearances, and when burning is allowed.
Key Facts
- Recreational fire setback
- 25 feet from structures
- Pit fire max size
- 3 ft diameter, 2 ft high
- Attendance
- Constantly attended until out
- Extinguisher required
- Minimum 4-A rating
Summary
Recreational fires and cooking pit fires are legal only inside a contained device or pit meeting exact size and distance-from-structure limits set by the fire code.
(2)Fires set for recreational purposes if:a.Contained within a device designed for the purpose of containing recreational fires to include: portable fire places, chimeras, grills, woodstoves, etc.;b.Kept twenty-five (25) feet from any structure or combustible material;c.If the recreational fire is constantly attended until extinguished; andd.A minimum of one (1) portable fire extinguisher with a minimum 4-A rating or other approved on-site fire-extinguishing equipment, such as dirt, sand, water barrel, garden hose, shall be available for immediate utilization.(3)Fires set in a pit for the cooking of food for human consumption if:a.The total fuel area is three (3) feet or less in diameter and two (2) feet or less in height;b.Kept twenty-five (25) feet from any structure or combustible material;
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 75).
Full Breakdown
City Code § 8-5(c)(2)-(3) allows two kinds of open fires without extra permitting: recreational fires (fire pits, chimeneas, grills) kept 25 feet from any structure or combustible material and constantly attended, and cooking pit fires with a fuel area no more than 3 feet in diameter and 2 feet high, also kept 25 feet from structures. Both require a portable fire extinguisher rated at least 4-A, or equivalent equipment such as a hose or water barrel, on hand while burning.
Violations & Fines
Fire, police, and fire code officials may order any fire that breaches these setback, size, or attendance requirements extinguished immediately as a public nuisance.
Frequently Asked Questions
How far must a fire pit be from my house?
What size can a cooking pit fire be?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in North Charleston
How North Charleston compares: Cities with the Strictest Fire Pit Rules·Compare North Charleston to another location·View the South Carolina fire regulations overview
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Fire Pits & Backyard Fires in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Charleston County handle fire pits & backyard fires.