Honolulu County, HI Fire Regulations: Outdoor Burning (2026)
Outdoor burning rules in Honolulu County, HI, 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
- Enforcing agency
- Honolulu Fire Department
- AHJ authority
- Can prohibit hazardous fires
- Advance notice
- 15 min before lighting
- Max fine
- $1,000 per offense
Summary
The Honolulu Fire Code lets people burn outdoors only under listed conditions, and the fire department's Authority Having Jurisdiction can prohibit any open fire it judges hazardous anywhere on Oahu.
10.10.1 Open Burning Fires. Open burning shall be conducted in accordance with this section and may be prohibited when the AHJ determines such fires are a hazard. 10.10.1.1 Compliance. Open burning shall comply with the following:
1. Fires for Cooking Food. Persons responsible for such fires not contained within an appliance, such as an imu, shall notify the HFD’s Fire Communication Center (“FCC”) 15 minutes prior to lighting such fires.
2. Fires for Recreational, Decorative, or Ceremonial Purposes. Obtain written permission from the property owner. Submit a letter to the AHJ for approval at least 14 days prior to the event, noting the date, time, and location of the fire. Persons responsible shall notify the HFD’s FCC 15 minutes prior to lighting such fires.
3. Fires to Abate a Fire Hazard. Obtain written permission from the property owner. Submit a letter to the AHJ for approval at least 14 days prior to the event, noting the date, time, and location of the fire. Persons responsible shall notify the HFD’s FCC 15 minutes prior to lighting such fires.
4. Fires for Prevention or Control of Disease or Pests. Obtain written permission from the property owner. Submit a letter to the AHJ for approval at least 14 days prior to the event, noting the date, time, and location of the fire. Persons responsible shall notify the HFD’s FCC 15 minutes prior to lighting such fires.
5. Fires for Training of Fire Fighting Personnel. Fires for the training of
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-10: Supplement 10, 12-2025 Ordinance No. 25-40 through Ordinance No. 25-56).
Full Breakdown
ROH § 20-1.1 amends NFPA 1 § 10.10.1: open burning must follow the section's compliance rules covering cooking fires, recreational fires, hazard abatement, pest control, training fires and dangerous-material disposal, and the AHJ may prohibit any open fire it determines is a hazard. Most categories require advance written landowner permission and a 15-minute notice call to HFD's Fire Communication Center before lighting.
Violations & Fines
Fire Code violations are misdemeanors under ROH § 20-1.1 amending § 1.16.4.4, punishable by up to $1,000 and up to one year in jail per offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I burn yard waste in my backyard on Oahu?
Who enforces open burning rules in Honolulu County?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Honolulu County
How Honolulu County compares: Cities with the Strictest Outdoor Burning Rules·Compare Honolulu County to another location·View the Hawaii fire regulations overview
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