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Clark County, NV Fire Regulations: Outdoor Burning (2026)

Significant Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Outdoor burning rules in Clark County, NV, 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

Permit required
For any outdoor open fire
Issuing agency
Clark County Fire Department
Exempt
Grills, barbecue pits, outdoor fireplaces
Max penalty
10 days jail, $1,000 fine
Applies to
Unincorporated county, incl. the Strip

Summary

Any open fire on private or public land in unincorporated Clark County, bonfires, burn barrels, brush piles, requires a permit from the county fire department; barbecue grills and outdoor fireplaces used for cooking are exempt.

City-specific rules exist: North Las Vegas, and Las Vegas have their own outdoor burning rules that differ from Clark County's county-level regulations. If you live in one of those cities, check the city-specific page instead.

No person shall kindle or maintain any outdoor open fire or authorize any such fire to be kindled or maintained on any private land without first having obtained a permit from the fire department. Nor shall any fire be kindled or maintained in any outdoor container unless such container has been approved by and a permit issued by the fire department. Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit or make unlawful the construction and use of barbecue pits, grills or outdoor fireplaces for the preparation of food for consumption by individuals on their own private property or with the permission of the owner of the private property.

(Ord. No. 5187, § 1, 11-5-2024)

Source: Clark County Air Quality RegulationsView official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 147).

Full Breakdown

Clark County Code § 12.49.090 makes it unlawful to kindle or maintain any outdoor open fire, or to burn in an outdoor container, on private land anywhere in unincorporated Clark County, including Paradise, Winchester, Enterprise and the other Strip-area townships, without a permit from the Clark County Fire Department. A companion section, § 12.49.080, imposes the same permit requirement for fires on public streets, alleys, roads or other public ground. Both sections exempt ordinary barbecue pits, grills and outdoor fireplaces used to cook food on private property. Violating either section is a misdemeanor under § 12.49.100, punishable by up to 10 days in jail and a $1,000 fine.

Violations & Fines

Kindling or maintaining an unpermitted open fire, bonfire or burn-container fire on public or private land is a misdemeanor.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I have a backyard bonfire in unincorporated Clark County without a permit?
No. Section 12.49.090 requires a fire department permit for any open fire or outdoor container burn on private land; only cooking grills, barbecue pits and outdoor fireplaces are exempt.
Does this rule apply on the Las Vegas Strip?
Yes. The Strip resorts sit in unincorporated Paradise and Winchester townships, so the county fire permit requirement in §§ 12.49.080-.090 applies there, not the City of Las Vegas code.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Clark County

All Clark County rules

How Clark County compares: Cities with the Strictest Outdoor Burning Rules·Compare Clark County to another location·View the Nevada fire regulations overview

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Outdoor Burning in Cities Across Clark County