Gastonia, NC Fire Regulations: Outdoor Burning (2026)

Section 12-4 states the rule flatly: no person may burn or cause to be burned any material outside of a building within the corporate city limits. Three narrow exceptions follow. First, a city employee acting in the lawful performance of duties is exempt. Second, small fires for cooking, entertainment or necessity kindled in a barbecue pit, exterior fireplace, cookout device or similar outdoor device are allowed, covering routine backyard cooking rather than debris or trash burning. Third, a bonfire kindled for entertainment or necessity is allowed only upon issuance of a permit or other authorization by the city fire official, meaning anything larger than a cooking fire needs advance sign-off.

This sits inside chapter 12, which section 12-1 says adopts the North Carolina Fire Code, including Appendix Chapters E, F, G and H, as the city's fire prevention code, enforced by the bureau of fire prevention under section 12-26. The bureau's duties reach fire prevention generally, storage and use of combustible or flammable materials, alarm and extinguishing equipment maintenance, and investigating the cause and origin of fires. Fire officials have right-of-entry authority under section 12-27 to inspect for fire-safety violations, needing occupant consent or an administrative warrant for a private dwelling unless there is probable cause of immediate danger to life or property.