Cincinnati, OH Fire Regulations: Outdoor Burning (2026)
Outdoor burning rules in Cincinnati, OH, 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
- State Rule
- OAC 3745-19-03 restricted area - open burning prohibited
- Recreational Fire Limit
- 3 ft diameter and 2 ft height maximum
- Fuel Requirement
- Clean seasoned firewood or natural gas only
- Waste Burning
- Prohibited - no leaves, brush, or refuse
- Enforcement
- Cincinnati Fire Department and Ohio EPA
Summary
Open burning of leaves, brush, and yard waste is unlawful in Cincinnati under both city ordinance and Ohio EPA OAC 3745-19. Cincinnati is classified as a restricted area where open burning is prohibited except for narrow exemptions like small recreational fires.
(A) No person or property owner shall cause or allow open burning in a restricted area except as provided in paragraphs (B) to (D) of this rule or in section 3704.11 of the Revised Code.
(B) Open burning shall be allowed for the following purposes without notification to or permission from the Ohio EPA:
(1) Heating tar, welding, acetylene torches, highway safety flares, heating for warmth of outdoor workers and strikers, smudge pots and similar occupational needs.
(2) Bonfires, campfires and outdoor fireplace equipment, whether for cooking food for human consumption, pleasure, religious, ceremonial, warmth, recreational, or similar purposes, if the following conditions are met:
(a) They are fueled with clean seasoned firewood, natural gas or equivalent, or any clean burning fuel with emissions that are equivalent to or lower than those created from the burning of seasoned firewood.
(b) They are not used for waste disposal purposes.
(c) They shall have a total fuel area of three feet or less in diameter and two feet or less in height.
(3) Disposal of hazardous explosive materials, military munitions or explosive devices that require immediate action to prevent endangerment of human health, public safety, property or the environment and that are excluded from the requirement to obtain a hazardous waste permit pursuant to paragraph (D)(1)(d) of rule 3745-50-45 of the Administrative Code.
(4) Recognized training in the use of fire extinguishers for commercial or industrial fire prevention.
(5) Fires set at the direction of federal, state, and local law enforcement officials for the purpose of destruction of cannabis sativa (marijuana) plant vegetation, processed marijuana material or other drugs seized by federal, state, or local law enforcement officials. Fires allowed by paragraphs (B)(1), (B)(2) and (B)(4) of this rule shall not be used for waste disposal purposes and shall be of minimum size sufficient for their intended purpose; the fuel shall be chosen to minimize the generation and emission of air contaminants.
Full Breakdown
Cincinnati falls within a restricted area under Ohio Administrative Code 3745-19-03, which means open burning is generally prohibited. The Ohio EPA strictly regulates outdoor burning, and Cincinnati enforces these state rules through its Fire Prevention Code under Title XII of the Cincinnati Municipal Code. Burning leaves, brush, yard waste, construction debris, or any household refuse on residential property is unlawful. The only exemptions for residential properties are small recreational fires such as campfires and fires in outdoor fireplace equipment used for cooking food for human consumption, warmth, or pleasure.
These recreational fires must use clean seasoned firewood, natural gas, or an equivalent clean-burning fuel and cannot be used for waste disposal. The total fuel area must not exceed three feet in diameter and two feet in height under OAC 3745-19-03. Larger ceremonial bonfires up to five feet in diameter and five feet in height may be permitted with prior notification to the Ohio EPA and must not burn longer than three hours. Local ordinances may impose additional restrictions beyond state rules. Violations can result in citations from the Cincinnati Fire Department and fines from the Ohio EPA. Residents should dispose of yard waste through the citys curbside collection program instead of burning.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I burn leaves in my Cincinnati backyard?
Are small campfires allowed in Cincinnati?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Cincinnati
How Cincinnati compares: Cities with the Strictest Outdoor Burning Rules·Compare Cincinnati to another location·View the Ohio fire regulations overview
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