Sterling Heights, MI Fire Regulations: Fire Pits & Backyard Fires (2026)
Fire pit rules in Sterling Heights, MI, also called outdoor burning, recreational fire, or open flame ordinances, cover fuel types, clearances, and when burning is allowed.
Key Facts
- Max size
- 4 ft diameter, 2 ft high
- Burn time
- 4 hours max
- Location
- 50 ft from structures, 15 if contained
- Permit
- Not required for backyard fire pits
Summary
Sterling Heights caps recreational fires at 4 feet in diameter and 2 feet high, burning no longer than 4 hours, under the city's local amendments to the adopted International Fire Code.
307.4.2 Recreational fire dimensions, duration, and location. A recreational fire shall have a fuel area of 4 feet or less in diameter and 2 feet or less in height and shall not burn longer than 4 hours. The location of a recreational fire shall be in accordance with Section 307.4.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-46: Local legislation current through Ord. 509, passed 5-19-26).
Full Breakdown
The City of Sterling Heights amended IFC § 307.4.2 to cap recreational fires, the backyard fire pits, chimeneas, and fire pits allowed under § 307.1.2 without a permit, at a fuel area no larger than 4 feet in diameter and 2 feet high, burning no more than 4 hours at a time. Location must comply with § 307.4: fires must stay at least 50 feet from any structure, combustible material, right-of-way, or property line, or 15 feet if burning in an approved container. The fire code official can order any fire extinguished that creates a hazard.
Violations & Fines
The fire code official may order immediate extinguishment by the permit holder or Fire Department; noncompliant burning is a misdemeanor under the Code's general penalty (§ 1-9), up to $500 and 90 days.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit for a backyard fire pit in Sterling Heights?
How big can a recreational fire be?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Sterling Heights
How Sterling Heights compares: Cities with the Strictest Fire Pit Rules·Compare Sterling Heights to another location·View the Michigan fire regulations overview
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Fire Pits & Backyard Fires in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Macomb County handle fire pits & backyard fires.