Ridgefield, CT Fire Regulations: Fire Pits & Backyard Fires (2026)
Fire pit rules in Ridgefield, CT, also called outdoor burning, recreational fire, or open flame ordinances, cover fuel types, clearances, and when burning is allowed.
Key Facts
- Campfires/barbecues
- no permit needed
- Recreational bonfires
- need Fire Marshal approval
- Firefighting training burns
- exempt
- Construction salamanders
- exempt
- Unapproved bonfire
- treated as unpermitted burning
- Setback distance
- not specified for exempt fires
Summary
Ridgefield doesn't require an open-burning permit for a contained campfire or backyard barbecue: Town Code § 141-3 exempts them outright from Chapter 141's permit scheme. A bigger recreational or ceremonial bonfire still needs the Fire Marshal's approval, even though it too sits outside the standard permit process.
§ 141-3. Exceptions. This chapter shall not govern the following: A. Contained campfires or barbecues. B. Recreational or ceremonial bonfires approved by the Fire Marshal. C. The burning of material for the purpose of duly authorized fire-fighting training. D. Fires in salamanders used by workers for heating construction materials when temperatures require it.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4717891; v14 updated 2026-01-21; through 01-21-2026).
Full Breakdown
Chapter 141 governs Ridgefield's open-burning permit system, but § 141-3 carves out four categories that the chapter simply doesn't govern. Contained campfires and barbecues need no burn permit at all; a homeowner can use a backyard fire pit, chiminea or grill without applying to the Fire Chief, Assistant Fire Chief or Fire Marshal. burn window and the 100-foot woodland buffer that apply to regular open burning. The exception also covers material burned for authorized fire-fighting training and fires in salamanders used by construction workers to heat materials in cold weather.
Section 141-3 itself doesn't set a distance requirement or size limit for a contained campfire or barbecue, unlike the numeric standards Chapter 141 applies to permitted open burning; residents planning a larger fire pit or an outdoor fireplace should check with the Fire Marshal's office and the State Fire Safety Code for site-specific guidance, since this chapter is silent on setback distances for exempt fires.
Violations & Fines
A recreational bonfire lit without the Fire Marshal's approval falls outside the § 141-3 exception and is treated as unpermitted open burning under the rest of Chapter 141: a written warning for a first offense, then $50 for a second offense and $90 for each one after that under § 141-4, plus loss of eligibility for future burn permits until fines are paid.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit for my backyard fire pit?
What about a big bonfire for a party?
Does the ordinance set a setback distance for a fire pit?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Ridgefield
How Ridgefield compares: Cities with the Strictest Fire Pit Rules·Compare Ridgefield to another location·View the Connecticut fire regulations overview
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