Portland, OR Fire Regulations: Outdoor Burning (2026)

Portland Fire & Rescue enforces PCC 31.16, which adopts the Oregon Fire Code and bans 'open burning' inside the city — meaning the burning of yard debris, garbage, construction waste, leaves, or any material in an open pile. Multnomah County Air Quality (run by DEQ) extends a year-round residential burn ban across the entire Portland metropolitan air-shed under OAR 340-264. The only exceptions are: (1) recreational fires in a constructed fire pit or commercially manufactured fire device (chiminea, fire bowl) burning clean, dry, untreated wood, charcoal, or commercial fire logs; the fire must be no more than 3 feet in diameter, 2 feet in flame height, kept at least 25 feet from any structure or combustible, and continuously attended; and (2) cooking fires (BBQs, smokers). Burning of leaves, lawn clippings, treated lumber, plastics, rubber, or trash is always prohibited and triggers both PF&R and DEQ enforcement. During declared red-flag fire-weather warnings or DEQ Air Quality Advisories (typically July-September), even recreational fires may be banned by emergency order. To report illegal burning, call PF&R non-emergency or DEQ's air-quality complaint line. Permits for ceremonial fires, ground breaking, training burns, and prescribed fires are issued by PF&R under PCC 31.16.