Broward County, FL Outdoor Cooking: Smoker Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Allowed use
- Recreational fires, ceremonies, outdoor food prep
- Setback
- 300 ft from occupied buildings, waivable in writing
- Nuisance limit
- No excessive smoke or nuisance permitted
- Civil penalty
- $500 per notice of violation
- Definition trigger
- Applies only if no stack or chimney
Summary
Broward County lets residents build a campfire, bonfire, or open fire for recreation or outdoor noncommercial food preparation without a permit, as long as it avoids excessive smoke or a nuisance and meets the county's general open-burning setback rules.
A campfire, bonfire, or other fire will be allowed, that is used solely for recreational purposes, for ceremonial occasions, or for outdoor noncommercial preparation of food, as long as excessive smoke and a nuisance are not created. Where required, approval must be obtained from the appropriate fire authority.(c)Open burning for the training of firefighters. Open burning for the purpose of training firefighters will be allowed, subject to the requirements in Subsection 27-286(c).(d)Agricultural and silvicultural fires. Open burning will be allowed for agricultural and silvicultural fires when approved by the Florida Division of Forestry. (Ord. No. 2007-17, § 1, 8-14-07; Ord. No. 2009-56, § 1, 8-25-09; Ord. No. 2023-17, § 1, 5-23-23; Ord. No. 2025-39, § 3, 11-13-25)
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 72 | Administrative Code: Supplement 28).
Full Breakdown
The county's Natural Resource Protection Code (Chapter 27) treats any fire whose smoke doesn't pass through a stack or chimney as regulated 'open burning.' Sec. 27-285(b) exempts campfires, bonfires, and other fires used for recreation, ceremonies, or outdoor noncommercial food preparation from the general open-burning ban, requiring only that they avoid excessive smoke and nuisance conditions and, where the fire authority requires it, prior approval. But Sec. 27-286(a)(2) still applies the article's baseline standard: no open burning within 300 feet of an occupied building unless the neighboring occupant signs PWESD's written waiver form. Enclosed smokers or grills vented through a proper flue fall outside the 'open burning' definition entirely.
Violations & Fines
PWESD can cite prohibited or unnotified open burning as a $500 civil penalty per notice of violation under Sec. 8½-16(n)(7), which enforces Secs. 27-284 and 27-287 of the Natural Resource Protection Code.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I have a backyard bonfire or open cooking fire in Broward County?
Does this rule cover an enclosed smoker or grill with a chimney?
What's the penalty for an unlawful open cooking fire?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Broward County
Florida rules heatmap·Compare Broward County to another location·View the Florida outdoor cooking overview
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