Ridgewood, NJ Fire Regulations: Fire Pits & Backyard Fires (2026)
Fire pit rules in Ridgewood, NJ, also called outdoor burning, recreational fire, or open flame ordinances, cover fuel types, clearances, and when burning is allowed.
Key Facts
- Allowed location
- side/rear yard only
- Front yard
- prohibited
- Setback if 12 in. or less above grade
- 10 feet
- Setback if over 12 in. above grade
- principal-structure side setback; 10 ft rear
- In-kind repair
- allowed without expansion
Summary
Ridgewood zoning names fire pits directly among the residential deck and patio improvements that must stay out of the front yard and keep a 10-foot setback from side and rear lot lines, with a stricter side-yard setback once the installation rises more than 12 inches off grade.
Residential decks, patios and related improvements. Decks, patios, gazebos and similar structures, as well as related improvements, including but not limited to fireplaces, fire pits, barbecues, hot tubs, and similar recreational improvements accessory to a residential dwelling shall be subject to the following requirements: ... Such improvements shall be located only in the side and/or rear yards, and shall be prohibited in the front yard. ... Where such improvements are no more than 12 inches above the adjacent grade, they shall be set back from the side and rear lot lines a distance not less than 10 feet. ... Where such improvements are greater than 12 inches above the adjacent grade, they shall be set back from the side lot line the distance required for a principal structure in the zone and shall be set back from rear lot lines a distance not less than 10 feet.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4854397; v35 updated 2026-04-22; through 04-22-2026).
Full Breakdown
Village of Ridgewood Code § 190-124S groups fire pits with decks, patios, gazebos, fireplaces, barbecues and hot tubs as related residential improvements accessory to a dwelling, all governed by the same yard rules. Under § 190-124S(1), these improvements can only go in the side and/or rear yard; front-yard placement is prohibited outright. Section 190-124S(2) sets a 10-foot minimum setback from the side and rear lot lines for any such improvement that rises no more than 12 inches above the adjacent grade, which covers a typical in-ground or low fire pit.
If the improvement is built more than 12 inches above grade, § 190-124S(3) instead requires the same setback a principal structure would need from the side lot line, while still holding the rear-lot-line setback at a minimum of 10 feet. Section 190-124S(4) allows in-kind repair or replacement of a nonconforming deck, patio or related improvement, including an existing fire pit, without triggering these current setbacks, provided the repair doesn't expand the feature in any dimension or add to the lot's improved coverage.
Violations & Fines
The Zoning Officer enforces § 190-124S under § 190-134, and a fire pit built in the front yard or short of the required side/rear setback is a violation of Article X. Under § 190-136 that is a separate misdemeanor, punishable under Chapter 1, § 1-15A by a fine up to $1,000, imprisonment up to 90 days, or up to 90 days of community service, with each day of the violation counted separately.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I put a fire pit in my front yard in Ridgewood?
How far must my fire pit be from the property line?
Can I rebuild an existing fire pit that doesn't meet current setbacks?
Does the fire pit rule cover other backyard features too?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Ridgewood
How Ridgewood compares: Cities with the Strictest Fire Pit Rules·Compare Ridgewood to another location·View the New Jersey fire regulations overview
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