Greenville County, SC Fire Regulations: Fire Pits & Backyard Fires (2026)
Fire pit rules in Greenville County, SC, also called outdoor burning, recreational fire, or open flame ordinances, cover fuel types, clearances, and when burning is allowed.
Key Facts
- Campfires
- Allowed, exempt from ban
- Clearance
- 25 ft from structures
- Fuel
- Clean, untreated wood only
- Yard-debris burn
- Notify Forestry first
- Trash burning
- Prohibited
Summary
Backyard campfires and recreational fires are allowed in Greenville County under the state's open-burning exemption, provided they use clean wood, stay at least 25 feet from structures, and are constantly attended. Burning trash or yard debris in the backyard requires notifying the Forestry Commission first and is banned during burn
Campfires and fires used solely for recreational purposes, ceremonial occasions, or human warmth. Fires set for the purpose of human warmth must use only clean wood products (woody vegetation, leaves, or wood which is not coated with stain, paint, glue or other coating material, and not treated lumber).
Full Breakdown
SC Regulation 61-62.2 exempts campfires and fires used solely for recreation, ceremony, or warmth, so a contained backyard fire is legal. Fires for warmth must use only clean wood products, not stained, painted, glued, or treated lumber. Greenville County adopts the SC Fire Code, so a recreational fire must be kept at least 25 feet from any structure or combustible material and constantly attended with extinguishing equipment ready. Backyard burning of leaves and branches is separately allowed only after Forestry Commission notification under SC Code 48-35-10. Burning household garbage, plastics, or tires in the backyard is prohibited. All backyard burning stops when the Forestry Commission issues a burn ban.
Violations & Fines
An unattended, oversized, or trash-fueled backyard fire can draw fire-code citations from the local fire official, DES air-quality penalties, and personal liability for any fire that escapes onto neighboring property.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a backyard campfire legal in Greenville County?
Can I burn my household trash in the backyard?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Greenville County
How Greenville County compares: Cities with the Strictest Fire Pit Rules·Compare Greenville County to another location·View the South Carolina fire regulations overview
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