Killeen, TX Fire Regulations: Outdoor Burning (2026)
Outdoor burning rules in Killeen, 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
- Burn hours
- 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. only
- Fire dept. notice
- Required before and after burning
- Setback
- 300 feet from any structure
- Ag burns
- Permit needed, A or A-R1 zoning only
- Appeals
- Killeen Board of Adjustment
- Max fine
- $2,000 per day, fire-safety violation
Summary
Killeen's adopted International Fire Code limits open burning to the hours of 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., with the fire department notified before and after every fire. A permit is required first for land-clearing, agricultural, silvicultural, wildlife-management, pest-control, or bonfire burns, agricultural fires are restricted to agriculturally zoned tracts, and every fire must stay at least 300 feet from any structure.
A person shall not kindle or maintain or authorize to be kindled or maintained any open burning unless conducted and in accordance with this section. Burning shall be commenced and completed between 7:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. The fire department shall be notified before the fire is kindled and when the fire is exhausted or extinguished... 307.2 Permit required. A permit shall be obtained from the code official in accordance with section 105.6 prior to kindling a fire for recognized land development or silvicultural or range or wildlife management practices, prevention or control of disease or pests, or a bonfire. A permit shall likewise be obtained prior to kindling a fire for land clearing, farming, or agricultural purposes, which shall be permitted only on tracts zoned and used A (agricultural) or A-R1 (agricultural single-family residential)... 307.4 Location. The location for open burning shall not be less than 300 feet (91440 mm) from any structure, and provisions shall be made to prevent the fire from spreading to within 300 feet (91440 mm) of any structure.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 38 Update 1).
Full Breakdown
Section 11-61 adopts the 2024 International Fire Code, and Section 11-62 amends three of its open-burning sections for Killeen. , and requires notifying the fire department both before the fire is lit and once it is extinguished. ' A separate permit covers land-clearing, farming, or agricultural burning, but only on tracts 'zoned and used A (agricultural) or A-R1 (agricultural single-family residential),' and only the landowner may apply for or hold that permit. Because ordinary residential yard-debris or trash burning isn't one of the listed permitted purposes, it falls outside what a permit can authorize on non-agricultural land.
4 sets the location standard: burning cannot occur closer than 300 feet to any structure, and the person burning must take steps to keep the fire from spreading within that 300-foot buffer. 1 amendment carried in the same chapter.
Violations & Fines
Open burning outside these hours, without a required permit, or within 300 feet of a structure is enforceable under Killeen's general penalty, Section 1-8: since the fire code amendments govern fire safety, a violation can draw a fine up to $2,000 per day rather than the standard $500 cap, and each day a fire burns in violation counts as a separate offense. A permit can also be denied or revoked without limiting that penalty.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I burn brush in my backyard in Killeen?
What hours can I legally have an open fire in Killeen?
How far from my house does an open fire have to stay?
Do I need a permit for a bonfire in Killeen?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Killeen
How Killeen compares: Cities with the Strictest Outdoor Burning Rules·Texas rules heatmap·Compare Killeen to another location·View the Texas fire regulations overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.