Washington County, MN Fire Regulations: Fire Pits & Backyard Fires (2026)
Fire pit rules in Washington County, MN, also called outdoor burning, recreational fire, or open flame ordinances, cover fuel types, clearances, and when burning is allowed.
Key Facts
- Setback
- 25 feet from structures or combustibles
- Fires allowed in
- Designated fire ring, grill or camp stove
- Conservation areas
- No fires permitted at all
- Governing law
- Ordinance No. 218, Ch. III § 4(b)
- Penalty
- Petty misdemeanor, Minn. Stat. § 609.02 subd. 4a
Summary
Fires in a Washington County park are allowed only in a designated permanent fire ring or grill, or a portable grill or camp stove set at least 25 feet from any structure or combustible material. Parks Ordinance No. 218, Chapter III, Section 4(b) sets that rule, and conservation areas allow no fires at all.
start a fire in a park, except in a designated permanent fire ring or grill, portable grill or camp stove located at least 25 feet away from any structure or combustible material, or as authorized by the Director
Full Breakdown
Chapter III, Section 4 of Ordinance No. 218 bars starting a fire in a conservation area outright under subsection (a), and in a park limits fires to "a designated permanent fire ring or grill, portable grill or camp stove located at least 25 feet away from any structure or combustible material, or as authorized by the Director" under subsection (b). The fire must also stay small enough to be "reasonably managed within the containment area of a designated fire ring or grill" under subsection (c).
Subsections (d) and (e) require every fire to be attended and fully extinguished before being left, and bar scattering lit matches, burning tobacco, hot coals or other combustible material outside a proper receptacle or Director-approved site. Subsection (f) makes it separately unlawful to disobey a park staffer or law enforcement officer who orders a fire extinguished, at any location or time. " Ordinance No. 218 took effect May 21, 2024 under County Board Resolution No. 2024-057, replacing the 2020 Ordinance No. 213.
Violations & Fines
An unauthorized, unattended, or oversized fire, or ignoring an order to extinguish one, is a petty misdemeanor under Minnesota Statutes Section 609.02, subdivision 4a, fined up to the statutory maximum and deposited into the county park fund under Chapter VIII, Section 2. Sheriff's Office deputies and Parks Division staff enforce the fire rules and can order immediate extinguishment on site.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I have a fire in a Washington County park?
Do I have to watch my fire in a Washington County park?
Can the county ban fires even in the designated ring?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Washington County
How Washington County compares: Cities with the Strictest Fire Pit Rules·Compare Washington County to another location·View the Minnesota fire regulations overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.