Outdoor burning rules in Clearwater, 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.
Open burning of yard waste, trash, and construction debris is generally prohibited in Clearwater under Pinellas County environmental code and the city Fire Code, with narrow exceptions for permitted recreational fires and authorized agricultural burns.
Pinellas County Code Chapter 58 prohibits open burning of household garbage, yard trash, land-clearing debris, and similar materials within incorporated municipalities, including Clearwater. The Florida Forest Service may issue limited authorizations for prescribed or land-clearing burns under Florida Statute 590.125, but those rarely apply inside Clearwater's urbanized core. Permitted exceptions inside city limits include small recreational fires that meet the Fire Code clearances adopted by Chapter 17, ceremonial fires with a Fire Marshal permit, and cooking fires in approved appliances. During Pinellas County burn bans, even otherwise allowed fires are suspended.
Illegal open burning is a Pinellas County code violation with daily fines, plus state penalties under Chapter 590 and cost-recovery for any suppression response from Clearwater Fire Rescue.
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Side-by-side rule comparisons with other cities in Pinellas County.
See how other cities in Pinellas County handle outdoor burning.
See how Clearwater's outdoor burning rules stack up against other locations.
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