Ramapo, NY Fire Regulations: Fire Pits & Backyard Fires (2026)
Fire pit rules in Ramapo, NY, also called outdoor burning, recreational fire, or open flame ordinances, cover fuel types, clearances, and when burning is allowed.
Key Facts
- Permit
- Required for any bonfire or rubbish fire
- Setback
- 50 feet from structures
- Enclosed burner setback
- 15 feet from structures
- Attendance
- Constant with hose/extinguisher required
- Burn-ban authority
- Fire officials can ban all fires
- Governing section
- Ramapo Code § 144-17
Summary
Any backyard bonfire or outdoor rubbish fire in unincorporated Ramapo needs a Town permit, must sit at least 50 feet from any structure (15 feet if enclosed in an approved waste burner), and must be constantly attended with a garden hose or extinguisher on hand, under § 144-17 of the Fire Prevention Code.
A. Permit required. No person shall kindle or maintain any bonfire or rubbish fire or authorize any such fire to be kindled or maintained without a permit or other proper authorization. During construction or demolition of buildings or structures, no waste materials or rubbish shall be disposed of by burning on the premises or in the immediate vicinity without having obtained a permit or other proper authorization. B. Location restricted. No person shall kindle or maintain any bonfire or rubbish fire or authorize any such fire to be kindled or maintained on any private land unless the location is not less than 50 feet from any structure or the fire is contained in any approved waste burner located safely not less than 15 feet from any structure. C. Attendance of open fires. Bonfires and rubbish fires shall be constantly attended by a competent person until such fire is extinguished. This person shall have a garden hose connected to the water supply or other fire-extinguishing equipment readily available for use.
Full Breakdown
Chapter 144's Article IV general fire safety rules regulate any bonfire or rubbish fire kindled on private land in the Town outside its incorporated villages. Section 144-17A requires a permit or other proper authorization before kindling or maintaining a bonfire or rubbish fire, and the same permit requirement applies to burning waste or demolition materials on a construction site. Subsection B fixes the minimum distance: the fire site must be at least 50 feet from any structure, or, if the fire is contained inside an approved waste burner, the burner can sit no closer than 15 feet from a structure.
Subsection C requires that a competent person constantly attend any bonfire or rubbish fire until it is fully extinguished, and that person must keep a garden hose connected to the water supply, or other fire-extinguishing equipment, ready for immediate use. The Chief of the Bureau of Fire Prevention, the Chief Fire Inspector, or an Assistant or Deputy Fire Inspector can additionally prohibit any or all bonfires and rubbish fires under § 144-17D whenever dry conditions, wind, or other local circumstances make open flame hazardous, a standing burn-ban authority that overrides an otherwise valid permit until conditions improve.
Violations & Fines
Kindling or maintaining a bonfire without the required permit, ignoring the 50-foot (or 15-foot enclosed) setback, or leaving a fire unattended violates Chapter 144's Article IV. The Fire Inspector's office can order the fire extinguished, deny or revoke the permit, and refer continued noncompliance for prosecution under the Town's general fire code penalty provisions, enforced by the Bureau of Fire Prevention alongside the Police Department.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I have a backyard fire pit in Ramapo without a permit?
How far from my house does a fire pit have to be?
Do I have to watch the fire the whole time?
Can the Town ban fires even if I have a permit?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Ramapo
How Ramapo compares: Cities with the Strictest Fire Pit Rules·New York rules heatmap·Compare Ramapo to another location·View the New York fire regulations overview
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