Essex County, NJ Fire Regulations: Outdoor Burning (2026)
Outdoor burning rules in Essex County, NJ, 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
- Governing section
- § 74-26.A, County Code
- Default rule
- Fires barred outside designated areas
- Also bans
- Discarding lit matches, cigarettes
- Max penalty
- $5,000 fine or 90 days jail
Summary
Essex County bans building fires anywhere in a county park except in areas the Director specifically designates and regulates for that use.
No person in any County park or property shall build or attempt to build a fire except in such areas specifically designated for such use and under such regulations as may be designated by the Director. No person shall drop, throw or otherwise scatter lighted matches, burning cigarettes or cigars, tobacco paper or other flammable material in a County park or property or on any highway, roadways or street abutting or contiguous thereto.
B. Possession of weapons or firearms. No person shall carry or have in his possession while on any County park or property any weapon or firearm in which or upon which loaded or blank cartridges may be used except when authorized by law. Violations of this section shall be prosecuted in accordance with Title 2C of the Revised Statutes of New Jersey.
C. Discharge of firearms unlawful. It is unlawful for any person to discharge a firearm in any County park or property.
D. Paintball guns. In shall be unlawful for any person to bring into or have in his possession while on any County park or property a paintball gun, paintball markers, paintball grenades or any other "firearm type" device/weapon that is capable of releasing a nontraditional bullet such as a paintball, BB, or pellet by any means including gas, air, or spring-loaded.
E.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4440876; v14 updated 2025-08-13; through 08-13-2025).
Full Breakdown
Section 74-26.A prohibits building or attempting to build a fire in any County park or property outside areas the Director has specifically designated for that use and under the Director's regulations. The same subsection separately bans dropping, throwing or scattering lighted matches, burning cigarettes or cigars, tobacco paper or other flammable material anywhere in a park or on adjoining highways, roadways or streets. It's a distinct, park-specific fire rule sitting alongside the chapter's bans on firearms, paintballs and fireworks in Article VIII.
Violations & Fines
Building an unauthorized fire in a county park can bring a fine up to $5,000, 90 days in county jail, or community service upon conviction.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I build a campfire anywhere in an Essex County park?
Does this rule cover cigarette disposal too?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Essex County
How Essex County compares: Cities with the Strictest Outdoor Burning Rules·Compare Essex County to another location·View the New Jersey fire regulations overview
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