Ogden, UT Fire Regulations: Fire Pits & Backyard Fires (2026)
Fire pit rules in Ogden, UT, also called outdoor burning, recreational fire, or open flame ordinances, cover fuel types, clearances, and when burning is allowed.
Key Facts
- Yellow-level fire pit setback
- 25 feet from structures
- Orange level
- Wood-burning pits banned outright
- Red level
- All ignition sources banned
- Orange-level allowed device
- Gas fire pits with flame control
- Penalty
- Class B misdemeanor
- Applies in
- Fire marshal-declared hazardous areas only
Summary
Whether you can light a backyard fire pit in Ogden City depends on the fire marshal's current restriction level for hazardous areas. Yellow level allows small open-flame pits at least 25 feet from structures; Orange bans wood-burning pits and open flames outright; Red bars every ignition source with no exception.
C. Fire Restriction Levels: The fire marshal shall determine and declare one of the following fire restriction levels for hazardous areas when issuing a notice under this section. These levels shall govern permitted and prohibited activities in affected areas: 1. Yellow (Elevated Conditions): ... ... b. The following ignition sources are permitted in areas that are landscaped, continuously attended, and equipped with a means of extinguishment: (1) Small open-flame fire pits at least twenty-five feet (25') from structures or combustibles; ... 2. Orange (Critical Conditions): ... ... a. The following are prohibited: (1) Open flames (including wood-burning fire pits and outdoor fireplaces); ... ... E. Violation; Penalty: A violation of a notice issued under this section is a Class B misdemeanor, subject to the penalties provided under Title 1, Chapter 4, Article A.
Full Breakdown
Under Ogden City Code section 11-6-3C, once the fire marshal declares Yellow (Elevated Conditions) for a hazardous area, aerial fireworks and any ignition source outside a landscaped, continuously attended, extinguisher-equipped area are prohibited, but small open-flame fire pits at least 25 feet from structures or combustibles remain allowed, along with gas, pellet, solid-fuel and charcoal-burning outdoor appliances and ground-level fireworks and sparklers. When conditions worsen to Orange (Critical Conditions), the city prohibits open flames outright, including wood-burning fire pits and outdoor fireplaces, plus all fireworks, while still permitting gas fire pits and grills with flame-control features, lidded charcoal grills using commercial charcoal, and lidded smokers with no ember exhaust powered by gas, electricity or commercial pellets.
Red (Severe Conditions) prohibits every ignition source with no fire-pit exception at all. These tiered restrictions apply only within areas the fire marshal has formally designated hazardous under section 11-6-3A, such as land near waterways and canyons or the wildland urban interface east of Harrison Boulevard, not citywide by default; the fire marshal must first issue a written notice naming the boundaries and level before any restriction takes effect.
Violations & Fines
Burning a fire pit that violates the current restriction level in a declared hazardous area is a Class B misdemeanor under section 11-6-3E, enforceable under Title 1, Chapter 4, Article A of the Ogden City Code. Ogden Fire Department personnel can order an open flame extinguished on the spot and cite the property owner or occupant regardless of whether the fire actually spreads.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do fire pit rules apply everywhere in Ogden City?
How far must a fire pit sit from my house during Yellow restrictions?
Can I use a wood-burning fire pit during an Orange restriction?
What is the penalty for an illegal fire pit in a restricted area?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Ogden
How Ogden compares: Cities with the Strictest Fire Pit Rules·Compare Ogden to another location·View the Utah fire regulations overview
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