Sioux Falls, SD Fire Regulations: Fire Pits & Backyard Fires (2026)
Fire pit rules in Sioux Falls, SD, also called outdoor burning, recreational fire, or open flame ordinances, cover fuel types, clearances, and when burning is allowed.
Key Facts
- Clearance rule
- 15 ft from structures/combustibles
- Recreational fires
- exempt from open-burn permit
- Other open burning
- needs an operational permit
- Max penalty
- $500 fine or 30 days jail
Summary
Sioux Falls exempts recreational fires from the open-burning permit but requires portable outdoor fireplaces and fire pits to stay at least 15 feet from any structure or combustible material under the city's adopted 2021 International Fire Code amendments.
307.4.3 Portable outdoor fireplaces. Portable outdoor fireplaces shall be used in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions and shall not be operated within 15 feet (4,572 mm) of a structure or combustible material.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-135: Current through local ordinance 54-26, passed 7-14-2026).
Full Breakdown
Under Sioux Falls' 2021 International Fire Code amendments (§ 91.016), recreational fires are specifically exempted from the operational permit the fire code otherwise requires for kindling or maintaining an open fire on public or private ground (§ 105.5.34). Backyard fire pits and portable outdoor fireplaces still carry a containment rule: they must be used according to the manufacturer's instructions and kept at least 15 feet from any structure or combustible material (§ 307.4.3). These sit inside Chapter 91, Fire Protection and Prevention, the city's fire code chapter.
Violations & Fines
Violating the fire code's clearance or permit rules is a city ordinance violation, punishable under Chapter 40's general penalty: up to a $500 fine, 30 days in jail, or both.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit for a backyard fire pit in Sioux Falls?
How close can a fire pit be to my house?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Sioux Falls
How Sioux Falls compares: Cities with the Strictest Fire Pit Rules·Compare Sioux Falls to another location·View the South Dakota fire regulations overview
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