Littleton, CO Fire Regulations: Outdoor Burning (2026)

Littleton City Code Chapter 5-3, the Air Pollution Code, makes it unlawful for any person to burn or permit the burning of rubbish, wastepaper, wood or other flammable material on open premises, streets, alleys or other land within the city without first obtaining a permit under Section 5-3-5. The permit must come from the Air Pollution Control Officer of the Tri-County District Health Department and be countersigned by the Littleton Fire Chief or an authorized designee. Officials weigh where the burning will occur relative to nearby buildings and whether it would push emissions past standards set by the State of Colorado or the Arapahoe County Board of County Commissioners.

Section 5-3-6 extends the permit requirement to open fires, bonfires and outdoor trash fires generally, subjecting every permitted burn to whatever conditions the Air Pollution Officer and Fire Chief attach. Section 5-3-7 separately regulates incinerator burning: since February 5, 1968 combustible refuse may only be burned in an approved multiple-chamber incinerator or equipment the Air Pollution Control Officer has found equally effective. Four narrow activities fall outside the permit rule entirely: agricultural burning tied to growing crops as a gainful occupation, noncommercial cooking or instructional/recreational fires, smokeless or safety flares that burn off waste gases, and flares used to warn the public of danger.

A person denied a burn permit can appeal to the city's Appeals and Adjustments Commission under Section 5-3-8 for a variance, and inspectors from the health department or city have a right of entry under Section 5-3-9 to check compliance, backed by a court order if entry is refused. This chapter is separate from the wildfire-driven Stage 1/Stage 2 fire restrictions in Chapter 5-4, which can independently suspend recreational and open fires citywide.