Bellevue, NE Fire Regulations: Outdoor Burning (2026)
Outdoor burning rules in Bellevue, NE, also called the burn ban, open burning, or fire restriction ordinance, set when you can burn yard waste, debris, or run a recreational fire.
Key Facts
- Waiver authority
- Only the fire chief can waive the state burn ban
- Unpermitted fires
- Recreational fires limited to Haworth Park campgrounds
- Permit process
- Application filed with fire chief's office (§12-174)
- Permit fee
- Set by the Master Fee Schedule (§12-175)
- Penalty
- $100 to $500 fine, up to 6 months jail
- Extra sanction
- Burning privileges may be suspended up to 1 year
Summary
In the City of Bellevue, Nebraska, open burning is banned under state law and Section 12-173, and only the fire chief can waive that ban and issue a permit. Every open fire allowed within the Bellevue zoning jurisdiction is then regulated under the adopted International Fire Code for its method, size, location and extinguishment.
The fire chief shall have the authority to waive the open burning ban established by Neb. RS § 81-520.01, and may waive any similar provisions in the Nebraska State Fire Marshall regulations or in the 2009 International Fire Code, as amended, for an area within the Bellevue zoning jurisdiction. The fire chief may issue an open burning permit pursuant to section 12-174 of this Code. All open burning within the Bellevue zoning jurisdiction shall be regulated by the provisions of the 2009 International Fire Code adopted in Article III of this Chapter 12, as amended, solely for the purpose of controlling the method, structure, size, location, attendance and extinguishment of any such open burning, unless a contrary provision is recited herein.
Full Breakdown
Section 12-173 gives the fire chief authority to waive the open burning ban set by Neb. RS Section 81-520.01 and any similar restriction in the Nebraska State Fire Marshal regulations or the International Fire Code, for an area within the Bellevue zoning jurisdiction. Waiving the ban is not automatic: the fire chief must first issue an open burning permit under Section 12-174, and Section 12-172 separately limits unpermitted RECREATIONAL FIRE, as defined by the Fire Code, to designated campground areas of Haworth Park. To apply, Section 12-174 requires submitting an application to the fire chief's office on approved forms, supplying any information the fire chief requests, and Section 12-175 requires paying a fee set in the city's Master Fee Schedule, which is credited to the fire department's general fund.
Once a permit issues, Section 12-173 states that all open burning in the Bellevue zoning jurisdiction is regulated by the adopted International Fire Code solely to control the method, structure, size, location, attendance and extinguishment of the fire, unless the local ordinance says otherwise. Violations of this article are separately penalized under Section 12-179.
Violations & Fines
Section 12-179 makes any violation of the open-burning article, or of the adopted International Fire Code provisions it incorporates, a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of $100 to $500, up to six months in jail, or both. Each day a prohibited condition continues is a separate offense, and the fire chief may also suspend a violator's burning privileges for up to one year.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it legal to have an open fire in Bellevue?
Can I have a campfire without a permit?
What does a Bellevue open burning permit cost?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Bellevue
How Bellevue compares: Cities with the Strictest Outdoor Burning Rules·Compare Bellevue to another location·View the Nebraska fire regulations overview
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