Maricopa County, AZ Fire Regulations: Outdoor Burning (2026)
Outdoor burning rules in Maricopa County, AZ, 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 rule
- Air Pollution Control Regulations, Rule 314
- General rule
- No open outdoor fire without a permit
- Scope
- Countywide, including incorporated cities
- Permit process
- Burn permit plus daily Control Officer approval
- Penalty
- Class 1 misdemeanor per day
Summary
Maricopa County bans igniting any open outdoor fire countywide unless it falls under one of Rule 314's permitted categories, agricultural burning, firefighter training, disease control, each requiring a burn permit and daily clearance from the Air Quality Control Officer.
No person may ignite, cause to be ignited, permit to be ignited, suffer, allow, or maintain any fire or device listed in Section 102 of this rule, within the limits of Maricopa County, except as provided in Sections 304 through 322 of this rule.
Full Breakdown
Air Pollution Control Regulations Rule 314, § 301 makes it unlawful to ignite, cause to be ignited, or maintain any open outdoor fire anywhere in Maricopa County, incorporated cities included, except under the narrow permitted uses in §§ 304-322: agricultural ditchbank/fence-row burns, disease/pest-prevention fires, firefighter training, tumbleweed piles, and watershed rehabilitation. Each requires a burn permit under § 303, plus a same-day phone call to the Control Officer, who approves or denies ignition based on weather forecasts and stagnation risk. Residential fire pits, chimineas, and woodburning devices are exempt from Rule 314, those fall under separate Ordinance P-26 restricted-burn rules instead.
Violations & Fines
Violating Rule 314 is a Class 1 misdemeanor for each day the fire continues, plus civil penalties under A.R.S. § 49-513, enforced by the county Air Quality Control Officer.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I have a fire pit at my house in Maricopa County?
Does the open burning ban apply inside Phoenix or Mesa?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Maricopa County
How Maricopa County compares: Cities with the Strictest Outdoor Burning Rules·Compare Maricopa County to another location·View the Arizona fire regulations overview
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