Weston, FL Fire Regulations: Fire Pits & Backyard Fires (2026)

Section 52.16(A) of the Weston Code of Ordinances makes it unlawful to ignite, cause to be ignited, permit to be ignited, allow, burn or maintain any outdoor fire anywhere in the City. Subsection 52.16(B) then lists the only activities exempt from that ban, and only if conducted safely: noncommercial outdoor food preparation, tiki torches, patio fireplaces, prescribed burns run by the City Fire Department or another agency with legal authority to conduct them, and training exercises run by the City Fire Department. A standard wood-burning fire pit sitting on the ground is not on that list, which means Code Compliance and the contracted Fire Department can treat it as a prohibited outdoor fire unless it can fairly be called a patio fireplace.

The ordinance does not define 'patio fireplace' further, so residents installing a gas or wood-burning unit on a lanai or paver patio should get it confirmed against 52.16(B)(3) before use, since the line between an exempt patio fireplace and a banned fire pit is drawn by enforcement staff, not a bright-line size or fuel test in the text. The section was adopted by Ordinance 2010-12 on October 4, 2010, and amended by Ordinance 2024-09 on May 20, 2024, which updated the exemption list. Because Chapter 52 sets no separate fine for this section, a violation falls under the Code's general penalty at Section 2.99: a fine of up to $1,000 per day for a first offense, up to $5,000 per day for a repeat violation, up to $15,000 per violation if the violation is irreparable or irreversible, or up to 60 days in jail, with each day of continuing violation charged as a separate offense.