Winston-Salem, NC Fire Regulations: Outdoor Burning (2026)
Outdoor burning rules in Winston-Salem, NC, 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
- for any bonfire or rubbish fire
- Exempt fires
- outdoor cooking in approved container only
- Distance rule
- at least 25 feet from structures
- Size limit
- max 3 ft high, 2 ft diameter
- Penalty
- class 3 misdemeanor, up to $500
Summary
Winston-Salem requires a permit before kindling or maintaining any bonfire or rubbish fire on private or public ground, though small contained recreational fires are exempt from the permit rule.
No person shall kindle or maintain any bonfire or rubbish fire or authorize any such fire to be kindled or maintained on any private property, or on or in any public ground, without a permit or other proper authorization. For purposes of this article, a "bonfire or rubbish fire" shall not include fires used solely for outdoor cooking and other recreational purposes when such fires are: ... located at least 25 feet away from any structure ... and are limited in size to no more than three feet in height and two feet in diameter.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 102 | Personnel: Supplement 96 | Water and Sewer: Supplement 56 | Solid Waste: Supplement 15).
Full Breakdown
City code makes it unlawful to kindle or maintain a bonfire or rubbish fire on private or public ground without a permit from the fire prevention bureau, and the same permit rule covers waste burning during construction or demolition. The rule exempts small recreational fires used solely for outdoor cooking: they must sit in an approved container such as a fire pit or chiminea, at least 25 feet from any structure, burn only dry wood with no accelerant or garbage, and stay no larger than three feet high and two feet across. Burning is also barred outright when weather makes it hazardous. Violating the section is a class 3 misdemeanor under G.S. 14-4, fined up to $500.00.
Violations & Fines
Kindling or maintaining a bonfire, rubbish fire, or construction waste burn without a permit is a class 3 misdemeanor under G.S. 14-4, punishable by a fine up to $500.00.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I have a bonfire in my backyard in Winston-Salem?
What's the penalty for burning without a permit?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Winston-Salem
How Winston-Salem compares: Cities with the Strictest Outdoor Burning Rules·Compare Winston-Salem to another location·View the North Carolina fire regulations overview
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