Springfield, OH Fire Regulations: Fire Pits & Backyard Fires (2026)

The City adopted the 2017 Ohio Fire Code with local amendments at Section 1501.01, and one amendment rewrites OFC Section 307, "Open Burning and Recreational Fires." The base rule at 307.4 sets a 50-foot setback from any structure for open burning generally, with two exceptions: a fire in a fire-official-approved container needs only 15 feet, and a small pile no more than 3 feet in diameter and 2 feet in height needs only 25 feet. Section 307.4.2 then sets recreational fires specifically at a flat 25-foot minimum distance from any structure or combustible material, and requires eliminating any condition that could let the fire spread within that 25 feet before lighting it.

A companion rule, 307.4.1, holds bonfires to the same 50-foot base setback unless the fire is contained in a barbecue pit. Section 307.4.3 separately allows portable outdoor fireplaces within 15 feet of a structure if used per the manufacturer's instructions, and exempts one- and two-family dwellings from even that 15-foot minimum. All open burning, including a recreational fire, requires a permit from the Fire Official under Section 307.2, obtained by the owner of the land where the fire will be set, and must be constantly attended with a portable extinguisher rated at least 4-A on hand until it's fully extinguished under Section 307.5.

The Fire Official can order any open burning extinguished immediately if it becomes hazardous or objectionable under Section 307.3, and violating any of these rules falls under the Fire Prevention Code's general penalty.