Cleveland, OH Fire Regulations: Outdoor Burning (2026)
Outdoor burning rules in Cleveland, 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
- Permit
- Required from Commissioner
- Max Size
- 5 ft × 5 ft × 5 ft
- Cooking Exempt
- Yes, non-commercial
- Ohio EPA Limit
- 3 ft diameter, 2 ft high
Summary
Open burning in Cleveland requires a permit from the Commissioner per §277.09. Cleveland Division of Air Quality limits burn size to 5x5x5 feet. Recreational cooking fires and fire pits under Ohio EPA limits (3 ft diameter, 2 ft high) may be exempt.
(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
Cleveland Codified Ordinances §277.09 requires a permit for open burning, applied for through the Commissioner. Cleveland Division of Air Quality caps open burn size at 5 feet by 5 feet by 5 feet: permits may take two weeks to obtain. Exemptions exist for non-commercial cooking for human consumption, heating tar/welding/highway flares, and heating clean fuels for warmth of outdoor workers. Ohio EPA OAC 3745-19 allows recreational fires up to 3 ft diameter and 2 ft high using clean seasoned firewood or natural gas without state notification, but Cleveland's local rules are stricter and may require permits even for smaller fires.
Violations & Fines
Operating without a permit may result in citations from the Division of Air Quality or Fire Department.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I burn yard waste in my backyard in Cleveland?
Do I need a permit for outdoor burning in Cleveland?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Cleveland
How Cleveland compares: Cities with the Strictest Outdoor Burning Rules·Compare Cleveland to another location·View the Ohio fire regulations overview
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Outdoor Burning in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Cuyahoga County handle outdoor burning.