Tallahassee, FL Fire Regulations: Fire Pits & Backyard Fires (2026)
Fire pit rules in Tallahassee, FL, also called outdoor burning, recreational fire, or open flame ordinances, cover fuel types, clearances, and when burning is allowed.
Key Facts
- Max pile diameter
- 8 feet, or non-combustible container
- Setback from woods/brush
- 25 feet
- Setback from neighbor's building
- 150 feet
- Setback from paved road
- 50 feet
- Burn hours
- 9:00 a.m. to 1 hour before sunset
- First-offense penalty
- $100.00 civil infraction
Summary
Tallahassee lets residents burn yard waste in a backyard campfire or contained fire pit without a city permit, but Section 10-2 of the Code of General Ordinances sets hard limits: an eight-foot-diameter pile, kept 25 feet from woods or brush, 150 feet from a neighbor's occupied building, and 50 feet from a paved road.
The term "recreational burning" refers to the legal open burning of vegetative debris, yard waste or untreated wood in a campfire, outdoor fireplace or other contained outdoor heating or cooking device. ... Pursuant to Florida regulations, outdoor burning of yard waste must be: burned within a pile no greater than eight feet in diameter or in a non-combustible container; 25 feet away from any forests, wildlands, brush or combustible structure; 150 feet from occupied buildings other than that owned or leased by the individual doing the burning; 50 feet from paved public roads; ... yard waste must be generated on residential premises of not more than two family units; conducted on the premises where the material was generated; can only be ignited after 9:00 a.m. eastern standard time, and extinguished one hour before sunset.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Land Development Code: Supplement 75 | Code of Ordinances: Supplement 75).
Full Breakdown
Section 10-2 folds the city's rules for backyard fires into the state's outdoor-burning framework: the Florida Forest Service holds permitting authority for outdoor burning citywide, but 'recreational burning', the legal term for a campfire, outdoor fireplace or other contained cooking or heating device burning vegetative debris, yard waste or untreated wood, does not need an FFS permit as long as it stays inside the size and distance limits the section spells out. The pile, or non-combustible container, can be no more than eight feet across, must sit at least 25 feet from any forest, wildland or brush, at least 150 feet from any occupied building other than the burner's own home, and at least 50 feet from a paved public road.
eastern time and must be out an hour before sunset. Whoever tends the fire has to clear the ground down to bare soil around the pile, keep a hose, water or shovel within reach, never leave it unattended, and make sure smoke does not block visibility on nearby roads. Household garbage, treated lumber, plastics, rubber, tires, pesticides, paint and aerosol containers can never go in the fire. 00 for a third or later offense.
Violations & Fines
Violating the yard-waste and recreational-burning setbacks or timing rules in Section 10-2 is a civil infraction: $100.00 for a first offense, $250.00 for a second, and $500.00 for a third or subsequent offense. The Tallahassee Fire Department can also order an out-of-compliance fire extinguished immediately regardless of any fine.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit for a backyard fire pit in Tallahassee?
What time of day can I legally burn yard waste?
What happens if I burn trash or tires instead of yard waste?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Tallahassee
How Tallahassee compares: Cities with the Strictest Fire Pit Rules·Florida rules heatmap·Compare Tallahassee to another location·View the Florida fire regulations overview
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