Oklahoma City, OK Fire Regulations: Fire Pits & Backyard Fires (2026)
Fire pit rules in Oklahoma City, OK, also called outdoor burning, recreational fire, or open flame ordinances, cover fuel types, clearances, and when burning is allowed.
Key Facts
- Permit required
- Any burn, any property, city limits
- Governing section
- City Code § 20-53
- Fee waiver
- Residential lots one acre or larger
- Enforced by
- Fire Marshal, Chapter 20
- First offense
- Class "a" offense, up to $500
Summary
Oklahoma City requires a permit before burning anything on any property in city limits, including backyard fires; permits for residential burns on lots one acre or larger are issued free.
No person shall burn on any property within the City limits of Oklahoma City without first meeting the requirements for and obtaining a permit as required by the International Fire Code, 2015 Edition as amended by the City Council of Oklahoma City. No fee as described in Chapter 60 of this Code shall be collected for permits authorizing a burn on residential areas one acre or greater in size.
(Ord. No. 22223, § 1, 5-28-03; Ord. No. 22550, § 1, 9-28-04, eff. 12-28-04; Ord. No. 24828, § 4, 2-25-14, eff. 5-1-14; Ord. No. 26627, § 1, 12-22-20)
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 5 Update 1).
Full Breakdown
Under City Code § 20-53, no one may burn anything on any property within Oklahoma City limits without first obtaining a permit that meets the requirements of the International Fire Code, 2015 Edition, as amended by the City Council. That covers open burning and outdoor recreational fires alike: there's no backyard-fire-pit carve-out in the text. The only fee break: permits for burns on residential-zoned lots of one acre or larger are issued at no charge. Smaller residential lots don't get that exemption. The Fire Marshal administers and enforces Chapter 20's fire prevention rules, including this permit requirement.
Violations & Fines
Burning without a permit is a Class "a" offense under § 20-27, fine up to $500; a second violation becomes a Class "b" offense, up to $1,200 or six months in jail.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit for a small backyard fire pit in Oklahoma City?
Is there a fee for a residential burn permit?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Oklahoma City
How Oklahoma City compares: Cities with the Strictest Fire Pit Rules·Compare Oklahoma City to another location·View the Oklahoma 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.