Broward County, FL Fire Regulations: Outdoor Burning (2026)
Outdoor burning rules in Broward County, FL, 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
- Enforcing agency
- PWESD
- Residential yard trash burning
- Prohibited
- Recreational campfires/bonfires
- Allowed if no nuisance
- Building setback (general burns)
- 300 feet minimum
- Allowed hours
- 9 a.m. to 1 hr before sunset
Summary
Broward County bans most open burning countywide, including all residential yard trash and household paper burning, with narrow exceptions for recreational campfires, agricultural fires and permitted training burns.
General prohibitions: Any open burning not specifically allowed by this article, by Section 62-256, F.A.C., and by Rule 5I-2, F.A.C., is prohibited. No person shall ignite, cause to be ignited, or permit to be ignited any material which will result in any prohibited open burning as defined in this section; nor shall any person suffer, allow, burn, conduct, or maintain any prohibited open burning. The Florida Division of Forestry or any authorized fire control agency empowered by law or ordinance to extinguish unlawful burning may extinguish, or cause to be extinguished, any fire that is unauthorized or does not comply with this chapter. Any person responsible for unlawful open burning shall bear any applicable costs involved in extinguishing the fire.(b)Open burning to reduce yard trash and household paper products generated on occupied residential premises is prohibited.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 72 | Administrative Code: Supplement 28).
Full Breakdown
The Public Works and Environmental Services Department (PWESD) enforces a broad open-burning ban under the county's Natural Resource Protection Code. Burning yard trash or household paper products on occupied residential property is flatly prohibited, as is burning tires, roofing material, garbage, demolition debris, plastics or animal carcasses anywhere in the county. Recreational campfires/bonfires, agricultural burning approved by the Florida Division of Forestry, certified firefighter training burns, and disaster-debris burning by air curtain incinerator are allowed subject to distance, timing and notification rules in Sec. 27-286.
Violations & Fines
PWESD may extinguish unauthorized fires and bill the responsible party for the cost; illegal burning is also enforceable as a county code violation carrying a civil citation and penalty.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I burn yard waste or trash in my Broward County yard?
Are backyard campfires allowed in Broward County?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Broward County
How Broward County compares: Cities with the Strictest Outdoor Burning Rules·Florida rules heatmap·Compare Broward County to another location·View the Florida fire regulations overview
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