Winter Fire Pit Rules by City (2026)

Most Restrictive

1. 1
   Allentown, PA25 feet minimum from any structure

   The City of Allentown treats a backyard fire pit as a campfire, which requires a permit and a pre-lighting inspection by the Fire Prevention Office. The fire may be in an approved open container or on the ground, must sit at least 25 feet from any structure, and the pile may not exceed 3 feet in diameter or 2 feet in height. Only one burning permit per month per property is allowed and burn time is capped at three hours.

2. 2
   Plano, TXFire dept., health dept., TX Air Quality Control Board

   Plano prohibits open burning citywide, with the only carve-out a permitted ceremonial campfire. There is no by-right allowance for backyard fire pits, brush burning, or recreational fires: the fire code's blanket ban applies to any structure or district.

3. 3
   Chicago, IL

   Chicago's code makes it unlawful to burn wood, paper, leaves, or any combustible material in open fires or metal containers: a ban that reaches ordinary backyard fire pits unless conducted under the state's limited open-burning exceptions.

4. 4
   Bridgeport, CTOnly for material with no disposal alternative

   Bridgeport prohibits any open fire outside a building, anywhere in the city, unless it falls under a narrow burning permit or an official-duty exception: recreational fire pits and bonfires generally don't qualify.

5. 5
   Durham, NC

   Durham bans burning leaves, brush, trash, or any other refuse anywhere within city limits as an amendment to the adopted North Carolina Fire Prevention Code, leaving only a narrow exception for commercial contractors clearing large open areas under a Fire Prevention Division permit.

6. 6
   Contra Costa County, CA10 ft (Section 4104.2)

   Backyard burning in unincorporated Contra Costa County is tightly limited: BAAQMD Regulation 5 prohibits burning yard waste, and recreational wood fires aren't among its allowed categories. The Fire Code lets officials declare hazardous fires a public nuisance, and suppression costs can be billed to the property owner.

7. 7
   Lewisville, TX10 feet from structure or combustibles

   Lewisville bans recreational fires and bonfires outright: portable fire pits and backyard campfires are prohibited citywide. Only a permanently installed outdoor fire pit built at least 10 feet from any structure or combustible material is allowed.

8. 8
   Marin County, CA≤ 3 ft diameter, ≤ 2 ft height; 25 ft from structures

   Residential fire pits and chimineas are generally allowed in unincorporated Marin under the California Fire Code as adopted in Chapter 16.16 MCC, but spark arrestors are required, recreational fires must follow CFC § 307 size and clearance rules, and all outdoor open flames are banned countywide during Red Flag Warnings.

9. 9
   Philadelphia, PANot within 25 feet of a structure

   True backyard ground fires (recreational fires and bonfires) are not freely allowed in Philadelphia. The Air Management Code Section 3-202 prohibits open fires except outdoor cooking, and under Fire Code Section 307 a recreational fire or bonfire requires fire code official approval and must observe setbacks - 25 feet from a structure for a recreational fire and 50 feet for a bonfire. Most residents instead use a permitted manufactured patio fireplace under L&I Code Bulletin F-0602 R1.

10. 10
    Daly City, CAClean dry wood, charcoal, propane, natural gas

    Backyard fires in chimineas, fire bowls, and portable fireplaces are allowed in Daly City under the adopted California Fire Code, but only burning clean fuels -- never rubbish or yard waste -- and never during a Bay Area Spare the Air Alert, when all wood burning is illegal indoors and outdoors.