Irving, TX Fire Regulations: Outdoor Burning (2026)
Outdoor burning rules in Irving, TX, 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
- Prohibited
- Burning hair, leather, rags causing offensive smell
- Reach
- City limits plus 5,000 feet beyond
- Penalty
- Up to $2,000 (fire-safety nuisance)
- Abatement
- 7-day notice, then city abates and liens
- Interest
- 10% per annum on unpaid abatement charges
Summary
Irving's nuisance ordinance makes it a violation to burn hair, leather, rags, or any other substance that produces an offensive smell, smoke, or odor capable of annoying nearby residents, whether the burning happens inside city limits or within 5,000 feet of them. Section 23-1(i) treats this kind of open burning as a public nuisance.
The following shall constitute nuisances when allowed, maintained or suffered to exist within the city and for a distance of five thousand (5,000) feet from such corporate limits. The person guilty of causing or permitting a nuisance to exist shall be fined as provided in this Code. ... (i) The act of burning any hair, leather, rags or any other substance of any kind which may cause or produce an offensive smell, smoke or odor capable of annoying persons living in the vicinity.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4988517; v32 updated 2026-07-30).
Full Breakdown
Section 23-1 opens by declaring that the listed acts constitute nuisances whenever allowed, maintained, or suffered to exist within the city and for a distance of 5,000 feet beyond the corporate limits, with anyone guilty of causing or permitting a nuisance subject to a fine. Subsection (i) targets a specific kind of open burning: burning hair, leather, rags, or any other substance of any kind that may cause or produce an offensive smell, smoke, or odor capable of annoying persons living in the vicinity. It doesn't ban campfires or yard-debris burning generally; it is triggered by the offensive-odor or smoke effect on neighbors.
Because this chapter governs fire safety among other things, § 23-3 sets the enhanced penalty for it: a fine not to exceed $2,000, with each day a violation continues counting as a separate offense. If a person doesn't stop on their own, § 23-2 lays out abatement: the director of inspections gives notice of the noncompliance, and if the person fails to comply within seven days, the city can do the abatement work itself and charge the responsible party at least $250 per lot plus interest at 10 percent per annum, secured by a lien on the property filed with the Dallas County Clerk.
Separately, city parks carry their own narrower fire rule under § 25-8, limiting fires within parks to designated areas such as grills or fire pits.
Violations & Fines
A burning nuisance under § 23-1(i) carries the fire-safety penalty in § 23-3: a fine up to $2,000, with each continuing day treated as a new offense. Noncompliance after the director of inspections' notice triggers city abatement under § 23-2, adding at least $250 per lot in costs plus 10 percent annual interest, secured by a property lien.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is open burning illegal in Irving?
What's the fine for illegal burning in Irving?
What happens if I don't stop burning after the city tells me to?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Irving
How Irving compares: Cities with the Strictest Outdoor Burning Rules·Texas rules heatmap·Compare Irving to another location·View the Texas fire regulations overview
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Outdoor Burning in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Dallas County handle outdoor burning.