Thornton, CO Fire Regulations: Outdoor Burning (2026)
Outdoor burning rules in Thornton, CO, 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
- Permit required
- IFC § 105.5.36, issued by fire code official
- Approved purposes
- silviculture, pest control, FD training, gov't bonfires, small contained fires
- Standard setback
- 50 feet from any occupiable structure
- Wind limit
- prohibited above 15 mph surface winds
- Hours
- sunrise to sunset unless separately approved
- Attendance
- constant, with 4-A rated extinguisher or equivalent
- Penalty
- separate offense each day violation continues after notice
Summary
Kindling or maintaining any open fire in Thornton is unlawful without a fire code official's Open Burning permit under the amended Fire Code Section 307, and permitted burns are limited to a short list of approved purposes, calm weather, daylight hours and constant attendance.
307.1 General. It shall be unlawful for a person to kindle or maintain or authorize to be kindled or maintained any open burning unless conducted and approved in accordance with this section. It shall be unlawful to violate any condition or requirement of an Open Burning permit issued pursuant to this Section 307. 307.2 Permit required. A permit shall be obtained from the fire code official in accordance with Section 105.6 prior to kindling a fire. Application for such approval shall only be presented by and permits issued to the owner of the land upon which the fire is to be kindled. 307.6 Weather conditions. Open burning is prohibited on windy or gusty days; surface wind speeds shall not exceed 15 miles per hour (24 kilometers per hour). 307.7 Time. Open burning shall take place after sunrise and be completed before sunset unless an alternate time is specifically approved by the fire code official.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 65).
Full Breakdown
1 makes it unlawful to kindle or maintain any open burning that is not conducted and approved under Section 307, and equally unlawful to violate any condition of an issued Open Burning permit. 1 are narrow: recognized silvicultural, range or wildlife management practices; prevention or control of disease or pests; firefighter training or demonstration fires; government-sponsored or co-sponsored bonfires; and small fires contained by a chiminea, outdoor fireplace or fire pit no larger than 3 feet in diameter and 2 feet in height. 1. 2.
7 may only run between sunrise and sunset unless the fire code official specifically approves another time. 4, makes each day a violation continues after notice a distinct offense.
Violations & Fines
Kindling or maintaining unauthorized open burning, or violating a permit condition, is unlawful under Section 307.1 and is punished under Section 113.4 per the city's general penalty, Section 1-8(a); each day the violation continues after the fire code official has given notice counts as a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I burn yard waste in my Thornton backyard?
How far from my house must an open fire be in Thornton?
Is there a wind limit on open burning in Thornton?
What happens if I keep violating an open burning permit?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Thornton
How Thornton compares: Cities with the Strictest Outdoor Burning Rules·Compare Thornton to another location·View the Colorado fire regulations overview
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Outdoor Burning in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Adams County handle outdoor burning.