Utah County, UT Fire Regulations: Outdoor Burning (2026)
Outdoor burning rules in Utah County, UT, 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
- Open fire code adopted
- IFC Section 307
- Permit authority
- Utah County Fire Marshal
- WUI outdoor fires
- Prohibited without written permit
- Recreational fire pile limit
- 3 ft diameter, 1 ft height
- Combustible clearance for barbecues
- 30 feet minimum
Summary
Unincorporated Utah County requires a Fire Marshal permit for open fires under the International Fire Code, and bans any outdoor fire in Wildland/Urban Interface areas without a written permit.
6.11.090 Outdoor Fires No person shall build, ignite or maintain any outdoor fire of any kind for any purpose in or on any Wildland/Urban Interface area, except by the authority of a written permit from the code official. Exception: Outdoor fires specifically allowed by any governmental agency having jurisdiction over the land. Exception: Outdoor fires within inhabited premises or designated campsites where such fires are in a permanent barbecue, listed commercially manufactured portable barbeque, outdoor fireplace, incinerator or grill and are a minimum of thirty (30) feet from any combustible material or non-fire-resistive vegetation. No person shall use a permanent barbeque, portable barbeque, outdoor fireplace or grill for the disposal of rubbish, trash or combustible waste material.
Full Breakdown
010 provides that regulation of open fires follows International Fire Code Section 307 as adopted for the county. 32. 090 makes it unlawful to build, ignite, or maintain any outdoor fire of any kind, for any purpose, without a written permit from the code official. Exceptions exist for fires specifically authorized by another agency with jurisdiction over the land, and for recreational fires in a permanent barbecue, listed commercial portable barbecue, outdoor fireplace, incinerator, or grill kept at least 30 feet from combustible material or non-fire-resistive vegetation; using any such appliance to burn rubbish or trash is separately barred.
Recreational fire piles cannot exceed three feet in diameter and one foot in height, must have a garden hose or approved extinguishing equipment on hand, and must be constantly attended by someone able to use that equipment. Fireplaces and fire pits need an approved spark arrestor, screen, or door, and fire pits must use a flat or domed spark screen with openings no larger than one half inch.
Violations & Fines
Igniting or maintaining an outdoor fire in a Wildland/Urban Interface area without a written code official permit violates section 6.11.090. Burning rubbish or trash in a barbecue, fireplace, or grill, exceeding the three-foot recreational fire pile limit, or leaving a fire unattended without extinguishing equipment on hand are each separate violations. Fire code violations generally are a class B misdemeanor under section 6.06.070, with each day of violation a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit for a backyard fire in unincorporated Utah County?
Can I still use a barbecue or fire pit without a permit in a WUI area?
How big can a recreational fire be?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Utah County
How Utah County compares: Cities with the Strictest Outdoor Burning Rules·Compare Utah County to another location·View the Utah fire regulations overview
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