Fire pit rules in Whatcom County, WA — also called outdoor burning, recreational fire, or open flame ordinances — cover fuel types, clearances, and when burning is allowed.
Recreational fires are allowed throughout Whatcom County, including inside Bellingham and other urban growth areas. Fires over 3 feet wide or 2 feet high need a Northwest Clean Air Agency permit, and only clean firewood or charcoal may burn.
Whatcom County and the Northwest Clean Air Agency permit recreational fires countywide for cooking or warmth, even where yard-debris burning is banned. Keep the fire under 3 feet in diameter and 2 feet high to skip the permit; larger pleasure fires require an NWCAA permit. Burn only clean, seasoned firewood or charcoal, never garbage, yard debris, or treated wood. Keep the fire attended, a water source close, and clear of structures. Propane and natural-gas fire pits stay legal even during a Stage 1 air-quality burn ban; a Stage 2 ban stops recreational wood fires too.
Illegal or oversized fires draw NWCAA notices and fines. Burning during a Stage 2 air-quality ban or causing an escaped fire can bring larger penalties and DNR wildfire cost recovery.
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