Sammamish, WA Fire Regulations: Fire Pits & Backyard Fires (2026)

130, the City adopted the 2021 International Fire Code and rewrote Section 307 on Open Burning, Recreational Fires and Portable Outdoor Fireplaces. Open burning is banned citywide under the 1992 Puget Sound Clean Air Agency ban, but recreational fires and portable outdoor fireplaces are carved out as exceptions and need no permit. The location rules split by fire type: a bonfire must stay 50 feet from a structure or combustible material unless it is contained in a barbecue pit; a recreational fire (the typical backyard fire pit) must stay 25 feet from a structure or combustible material, citing WAC 173-425 for further state air-quality rules; and a portable outdoor fireplace must be used per the manufacturer's instructions and stay at least 15 feet from a structure or combustible material.

Every fire in these categories must be constantly attended until fully extinguished, and the site must have at least one portable fire extinguisher with a minimum 4-A rating, or another approved suppression tool like a garden hose, water barrel or dirt pile, ready for immediate use. If the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency or the Eastside Fire and Rescue/King County fire marshal declares a burn ban for air quality or fire danger, all fires, including recreational fires and fire pits, become prohibited until the ban is lifted, and it is the property owner's job to check for an active ban before lighting anything.