Pueblo, CO Fire Regulations: Fire Pits & Backyard Fires (2026)
Fire pit rules in Pueblo, CO, also called outdoor burning, recreational fire, or open flame ordinances, cover fuel types, clearances, and when burning is allowed.
Key Facts
- Exempted
- recreational fires, portable IFC fireplaces
- Standard required
- International Fire Code compliance
- Can be suspended
- during a burn ban
- Governing section
- Sec. 3-2-50(e)
Summary
Pueblo's open-burning ban does not apply to recreational fires or to portable outdoor fireplaces used the way the International Fire Code requires, so a backyard fire pit is allowed without a burn permit.
This Section shall not apply to: (1)Fires used for the noncommercial preparation of food for human consumption. (2)Fires for instructional or recreational purposes. (3)Portable outdoor fireplaces used in accordance with the International Fire Code.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 109).
Full Breakdown
Section 3-2-50(e) carves three exceptions out of Pueblo's open-burning prohibition: fires for noncommercial food preparation, fires for instructional or recreational purposes, and portable outdoor fireplaces used in accordance with the International Fire Code. That last exception is what covers a typical backyard fire pit or chiminea, which must be a portable, IFC-compliant unit rather than an open pile burn. The exemption does not override the City's separate authority to issue a burn restriction or burn ban under Section 3-2-50.5 when conditions make open flame hazardous.
Violations & Fines
A fire that goes beyond the recreational-fire or portable-fireplace exemption is treated as unlawful open burning under Section 3-2-50 and is void during any active burn ban issued under Section 3-2-50.5.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I have a fire pit in my Pueblo backyard?
Does that exemption apply during a burn ban?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Pueblo
How Pueblo compares: Cities with the Strictest Fire Pit Rules·Compare Pueblo to another location·View the Colorado fire regulations overview
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