Parker, TX Fire Regulations: Fire Pits & Backyard Fires (2026)
Fire pit rules in Parker, TX, also called outdoor burning, recreational fire, or open flame ordinances, cover fuel types, clearances, and when burning is allowed.
Key Facts
- Exempt fire type
- Social fires: barbecues, campfires and similar
- Requirement
- Fire must stay small and be attended
- Container rule
- Non-exempt fires need container 50 ft from structure
- Enforcement
- Fire Marshal may order any fire extinguished
- Penalty
- Misdemeanor fine up to $100 per offense
- Variance option
- City Secretary may issue a burn permit
Summary
Parker exempts small, attended backyard fires from its citywide burn restrictions. Under City Code § 93.20(A)(3), barbecues, campfires and similar social fires skip the standard 250-foot setback from structures as long as they stay small and a responsible party supervises the fire at all times. The Fire Marshal can still order any fire extinguished if it poses a safety risk.
(3) The foregoing requirements shall not apply to social fires (barbecues, campfires, and the like) so long as those fires are small and are at all times attended and supervised by a responsible party. ... (B) Precautionary measures. ... (2) All permitted fires shall, at all times, be attended by a responsible party who shall have fire extinguishing equipment readily available at all times.
Full Breakdown
20(A)(1)-(2)). 20(A)(3) carves out a specific exception for social fires: backyard barbecues, campfires and similar gatherings do not have to meet either the 250-foot or 50-foot distance rule, provided the fire stays small and is attended and supervised by a responsible party at all times. 20(B) still apply to any fire that does use a container: the container must be built to stay fully covered with a top so sparks and flames cannot escape, and whoever tends a permitted fire must keep fire-extinguishing equipment on hand the entire time it burns.
21 to order any fire or fireworks use stopped if it is judged hazardous to public safety or health, regardless of whether the fire otherwise qualifies as an exempt social fire. 22; the City Secretary decides based on a showing of necessity and a showing that the activity presents no safety hazard to the community. 99(B).
Violations & Fines
Burning outside the social-fire exception, without a container 50 feet from a structure, or without the required attendance and fire-extinguishing gear on hand is a misdemeanor under § 93.99(C), punishable by a fine up to $100 per offense. The Fire Marshal can order an existing fire extinguished immediately if it is deemed hazardous under § 93.21, independent of any penalty prosecuted later in Municipal Court.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I have a fire pit or campfire in my Parker backyard?
Do I need a permit for a small backyard fire?
Who can shut down my fire even if it is a legal social fire?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Parker
How Parker compares: Cities with the Strictest Fire Pit Rules·Texas rules heatmap·Compare Parker to another location·View the Texas fire regulations overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.
Fire Pits & Backyard Fires in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Collin County handle fire pits & backyard fires.