Owensboro, KY Fire Regulations: Fire Pits & Backyard Fires (2026)

Section 10-7(d) defines a 'recreational fire' as the noncommercial burning of materials for pleasure, religious, ceremonial, cooking, or similar purposes where the total fuel area does not exceed three feet in diameter and two feet in height. Fuel must be seasoned wood; the section bars burning rubbish, leaves, grass, or anything else that gives off substantial smoke or obnoxious odors. Recreational fires are restricted to one- and two-family dwellings and must be contained in an approved outdoor fireplace, permanent barbecue, or patio-type fire pit equipped with a screen or door; using one to dispose of rubbish, trash, or other combustible waste is prohibited.

A recreational fire must be constantly attended by a competent person who keeps a garden hose or other fire-extinguishing equipment ready until the fire is fully out. The fire chief or a designee can order a recreational fire extinguished if it doesn't conform to these rules, or if its fumes are obnoxious or the fire or smoke poses a health or safety hazard to the public. Because a properly sized recreational fire is exempt from the permit that § 10-7(a)-(c) otherwise requires for open fires, staying within the 3-by-2-foot limit and using an approved container is what keeps a backyard fire pit legal without going through the fire chief's permitting process.