Fort Collins, CO Fire Regulations: Outdoor Burning (2026)

Section 9-23 of the City Code prohibits four categories of open fires and open burning at all times: burning refuse or rubbish outside the exception in § 20-42(i); using fireworks except as the International Fire Code or a special events permit allows; open burning as defined in § 9-22, meaning agricultural burning, rangeland or forest management fires, air curtain destructors, and refuse pile burning, unless a Larimer County or Fire Code Official permit covers it; and any open fire or open burning that does not otherwise comply with the 2024 International Fire Code and § 20-1.

Beyond this baseline, the City Manager may declare Stage 1 fire restrictions under § 9-24 after consulting the Fire Code Official when conditions such as drought, regional fires, or degraded air quality create a fire threat; Stage 1 still allows gas or liquid-fueled fire pits and grills, and approved solid-fuel fire pits and food smokers used for recreation, under § 9-25. Stage 2 restrictions under §§ 9-26 and 9-27, the highest level, ban essentially all open fires including approved solid-fuel fire pits, permitting only gas- or liquid-fueled appliances, wood-pellet grills or smokers at one- and two-family homes, and a few other narrow exceptions such as fire department training fires.

Even a validly issued burn permit can be suspended for a single day under § 9-29 when winds exceed 10 mph or the Poudre Fire Authority rates fire danger high, and permit holders must call Fort Collins 911 dispatch the morning of a planned burn to confirm the suspension status.