Brevard County, FL Fire Regulations: Outdoor Burning (2026)
Outdoor burning rules in Brevard County, FL, 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
- Trigger
- KBDI drought index at or above 500
- Penalty
- Up to $500 fine or 60 days jail
- Suspension threshold
- KBDI falls below 450
- Enforced by
- Sheriff, fire prevention, code enforcement
- Scope
- Unincorporated Brevard County only
Summary
Brevard County bans campfires, bonfires and trash burning whenever the county's drought index hits 500 or the county chair declares a ban, with violators facing a $500 fine or 60 days in jail.
Open burning (to include campfires, bonfires, trash-burning and other similar open incineration) is hereby prohibited when the following conditions are present:(1)The Keetch Byram Drought Index County Averages map...calculation for Brevard County meets or exceeds 500; or(2)The chair...orders open burnings and the sale and use of fireworks...prohibited.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 135).
Full Breakdown
Section 50-1 prohibits open burning, campfires, bonfires, trash burning and similar open incineration, across unincorporated Brevard whenever the Keetch Byram Drought Index for the county hits 500 or higher, or whenever the county commission chair (in consultation with the county manager) orders a ban. The prohibition doesn't cover state-permitted burns, barbecue grills, or authorized fireworks displays and sales. The sheriff, fire prevention and emergency personnel, and code enforcement officers all enforce it, and the ban lifts only once the drought index drops below 450. Cities like Palm Bay, Melbourne and Titusville set their own burning rules.
Violations & Fines
Violating the burn ban is a misdemeanor punishable by up to a $500 fine, up to 60 days in county jail, or both; officers also seize any fireworks used in violation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I have a campfire in unincorporated Brevard County?
What happens if I violate the Brevard County burn ban?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Brevard County
How Brevard County compares: Cities with the Strictest Outdoor Burning Rules·Florida rules heatmap·Compare Brevard County to another location·View the Florida fire regulations overview
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