Citrus County, FL Fire Regulations: Outdoor Burning (2026)
Outdoor burning rules in Citrus 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
- Automatic ban trigger
- KBDI reading of 500 or higher
- Automatic ban lifts
- KBDI below 500 for 7 straight days
- Max fine
- $500.00
- Max jail term
- 60 days
- Coverage
- Unincorporated Citrus County only
- Authorization needed to burn
- Division of Forestry permission
Summary
Citrus County makes it unlawful to set fire to forest, grassland, marsh or other vegetation, or to build a campfire, bonfire, or burn yard trash and household garbage anywhere in the unincorporated county, unless the Florida Division of Forestry has authorized it. A separate countywide burn ban also switches on automatically once the local Keetch-Byram Drought Index reading hits 500.
It is unlawful for any person to set fire to or cause fire to be set to any forest, grassland, wild lands, marshes, vegetation, or land in an urban or rural area including agriculture, silvaculture, and pile burning or to build a campfire, bonfire, burn yard trash, household garbage, refuse, or other debris within the unincorporated areas of Citrus County unless authorization is obtained from the department of agriculture, division of forestry.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 76).
Full Breakdown
The prohibition sits in Article III of Chapter 46, the county's Emergency Drought Condition Fire Hazard Ordinance, and by its own terms covers only "the unincorporated areas of Citrus County" (Sec. 46-72); Crystal River and Inverness enforce their own fire codes. Sec. 46-74 bars burning forest, grassland, wild lands, marshes, agricultural or silvicultural material, campfires, bonfires and household trash without Division of Forestry authorization. On top of that baseline rule, Sec. 46-73(1) triggers an automatic drought emergency and burn ban the moment the KBDI reaches 500, lifting only after the index stays below 500 for seven straight days.
Short of that automatic trigger, the fire chief may separately declare a drought emergency after weighing KBDI trends, State Forestry input, vegetation conditions and other fire-hazard factors, sending written notice to the county administrator and board (Sec. 46-73(2)). Sec. 46-76 exempts permitted industrial or commercial processes, residential outdoor cooking on contained equipment, and fire department training exercises. The county must publicly notice any activation or deactivation of the ban (Sec. 46-73(2)(d)).
Violations & Fines
Violating Article III is prosecuted as a misdemeanor. Sec. 46-77 sets the penalty at a fine of up to $500.00, imprisonment in the county jail for up to 60 days, or both. Any law enforcement officer with jurisdiction in the county may enforce the ordinance under Sec. 46-72.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the county burn ban apply inside Crystal River or Inverness?
How would I know a burn ban is currently active?
Can I still burn yard debris in unincorporated Citrus County?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Citrus County
How Citrus County compares: Cities with the Strictest Outdoor Burning Rules·Florida rules heatmap·Compare Citrus County to another location·View the Florida fire regulations overview
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