Fire pit rules in Phoenix, AZ — also called outdoor burning, recreational fire, or open flame ordinances — cover fuel types, clearances, and when burning is allowed.
Phoenix allows backyard fire pits and portable outdoor fireplaces, but the Phoenix Fire Code (2018/2024 IFC as amended) Section 307 sets minimum clearances and requires constant attendance, and the Maricopa County Air Quality Department prohibits wood burning in any fire pit or chiminea on a declared No Burn Day.
The Phoenix Fire Code adopts International Fire Code Section 307. Under Section 307.4.3 a portable outdoor fireplace shall not be operated within 15 feet (3048 mm) of a structure or combustible material, with an exception for one- and two-family dwellings. A recreational backyard fire pit must comply with Section 307.4.2 (25-foot clearance, see backyard-fires) and Section 307.5 requires the fire to be constantly attended until extinguished with on-site fire-extinguishing equipment available. Separately, the Maricopa County Air Quality Department (which covers Phoenix) prohibits burning anything other than gaseous fuels in a fireplace, woodstove, chiminea, or outdoor fire pit on a No Burn Day, and bans burning household trash and yard waste year-round under Rule 314. Propane and natural-gas fire pits are not affected by No Burn Day wood-smoke restrictions.
Operating a fire pit in violation of Fire Code Section 307 is a Phoenix Fire Code violation enforceable by the fire code official, who may order the fire extinguished. Under Maricopa County Ordinance P-26, residential improper-burning fines range from $50 to $250 depending on the number of violations; the minimum fine for an illegal outdoor fire under Rule 314 is $200.
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Side-by-side rule comparisons with other cities in Maricopa County.
See how other cities in Maricopa County handle fire pit rules.
See how Phoenix's fire pit rules rules stack up against other locations.
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