Cities with the Strictest Fire Pit Rules (2026)

The First 25 of 437 Places in List Order: Most Restrictive Level First

This list is a directory grouped by level, not a measurement. Places are ordered by the restriction level recorded for each rule, most restrictive first: Heavy Restrictions, Significant Restrictions, Some Restrictions, Light Restrictions, Few Restrictions. The level is a label stored with the rule, and this page does not calculate it from fines, hours, fees or any other figure. Within a level, places are listed alphabetically by name, so position inside a level carries no meaning.

• Allentown, PAHeavy Restrictions25 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.

• Amarillo, TXHeavy RestrictionsUp to $2,000 fine per day, Sec. 1-1-5(b)

  Amarillo's Fire Code amendments prohibit recreational fires anywhere inside the city limits. Backyard fire pits, bonfires, and similar open burning aren't permitted within Amarillo proper, per Sec. 10-2-16's 2021 International Fire Code amendment 307.4.2. The Amarillo Fire Marshal enforces the ban under the same fire-code penalty structure that covers the rest of Chapter 10-2.

• Boulder, COHeavy RestrictionsRequired from Boulder Fire Rescue

  Boulder bans mobile and portable outdoor fireplaces, the store-bought steel bowl or basket fire pit, everywhere in the city under Fire Code § 307(2). A recreational fire is only legal in an exterior fireplace built to the City of Boulder Building Code, or as a permitted 'ceremonial fire' contained in a code-defined ceremonial fire pit or chantico, with a charged garden hose on hand and a 15 mph wind cutoff.

• Bridgeport, CTHeavy RestrictionsOnly 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.

• Chicago, ILHeavy Restrictions

  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.

• Cleveland, OHHeavy RestrictionsSmall recreational fires under 3 feet across are generally permitted with 25-foot setback

  Backyard fires are restricted under Ohio EPA rule OAC 3745-19 and the Ohio Fire Code. Small contained cooking fires are allowed with setbacks, but open burning of yard waste, leaves, and trash is prohibited in Cleveland.

• Contra Costa County, CAHeavy Restrictions10 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.

• Daly City, CAHeavy Restrictions25 ft open fires; 15 ft portable fireplaces

  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.

• Denton, TXHeavy Restrictions300 ft from structures

  Recreational fires, including backyard fire pits and campfire-style gatherings, are banned everywhere inside Denton's city limits under the locally amended fire code, with only a narrow bonfire exception.

• Durham, NCHeavy Restrictions$5,000 (ordinary) / $10,000 (willful)

  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.

• East Honolulu, HIHeavy Restrictions

  East Honolulu follows the City and County of Honolulu Fire Code: recreational, decorative, or ceremonial open fires (including backyard fire pits and bonfires) require the property owner's written permission plus a letter submitted to the fire department at least 14 days before the event.

• Jersey City, NJHeavy Restrictions$2,000 fine / 90 days (§ 1-25)

  Jersey City's zoning code bans open burning outright: 'No open burning shall be permitted in any district,' with no exception carved out for fire pits, chimineas, or backyard bonfires. The rule sits in the zoning chapter's air pollution performance standards, which apply to every district, residential, commercial, and industrial alike.

• Lakewood, CAHeavy Restrictions

  Lakewood outlaws portable fire pits, barbecues, grills and hibachis anywhere in a city park or recreation area. Section 4220(H) makes possessing one there a misdemeanor, drops to an infraction at an officer's discretion, and turns back into a misdemeanor if the same person repeats it within 24 hours.

• Lewisville, TXHeavy Restrictions10 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.

• Lowell, MAHeavy RestrictionsLowell Fire Prevention + City Gas/Plumbing Inspector

  Wood-burning fire pits, chimineas, and outdoor wood-burning fireplaces are prohibited in Lowell because open burning is banned at all times under 310 CMR 7.07(3)(e). The Lowell Fire Department does authorize propane- and natural-gas-fired fire pits if they meet 527 CMR 1.0 placement and safety requirements.

• Marin County, CAHeavy Restrictions

  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.

• Modesto, CAHeavy Restrictions

  Modesto bans backyard recreational fires outright (wood fire pits, chimineas, bonfires). Portable outdoor fireplaces (gas/propane appliances) are not categorically banned but remain subject to other city codes, and any fire that is allowed must be constantly attended with an extinguisher on hand.

• Philadelphia, PAHeavy RestrictionsNot 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.

• Plano, TXHeavy RestrictionsFire 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.

• San Bernardino County, CAHeavy RestrictionsSTR permit suspension for unresolved violations

  San Bernardino County bans solid fuel burning outdoor fireplaces, chimineas, barbeques and fire pits at short-term rentals in the Mountain Region under County Code § 84.28.070(j)(1). STR owners there also must keep the property free of hazardous conditions and keep spas and hot tubs covered and locked when not in use.

• Santa Maria, CAHeavy Restrictions25 ft (open) / 3 ft (portable at 1-2 family)

  Backyard burning of leaves, weeds, grass clippings, shrubbery, and tree prunings is prohibited in Santa Maria by Santa Barbara County APCD. The only routine backyard fires allowed are CFC 307.4.2 recreational fires (3 ft x 2 ft, 25 ft setback) and CFC 307.4.3 portable outdoor fireplaces. The Fire Chief can stop any backyard fire that becomes a hazard or nuisance.

• Albany, NYSignificant Restrictions

  Albany City Code § 197-5 requires any yard fire to sit inside a fireproof enclosure, stay at least 10 feet from any structure and 25 feet from a wood one, and be watched by an adult the entire time it burns.

• Alexandria, VASignificant RestrictionsYes, from fire official under Sec. 307.2

  Alexandria requires a fire official's permit before anyone kindles an open fire, including a backyard fire pit or recreational bonfire. Fire Prevention Code Section 307.1, adopted at City Code Section 4-2-21, bans unapproved open burning outright, and Section 307.2 sets a $143 permit fee under Table 107.2. Only approved Alexandria Fire Department live-fire training is exempt.

• Appleton, WISignificant Restrictions10 feet from buildings, fences, combustibles, property lines

  Recreational fire pits, outdoor fireplaces and open cooking fires in Appleton need a Fire Department permit unless the fire is fueled by natural gas, propane or charcoal in a commercially manufactured appliance. Permitted fires must sit at least 10 feet from any building, fence or property line.

• Auburn, WASignificant RestrictionsAuburn fire chief or designee

  Auburn bans outdoor fires citywide except for religious or ceremonial fires, firefighting instruction, disease control, or bulky waste and vegetation disposal where no reasonable alternative exists, and every permitted fire needs a written permit from the fire chief. ACC 8.32.010 and 8.32.030 exempt ordinary domestic barbecues and outdoor cooking devices from that permit.

State-by-State Breakdown

How each state leans overall, counted from every rule on record for this topic in that state. The counts include places that are not listed above. Columns run from Heavy Restrictions to Few Restrictions.

Complete List

The other 412 places, in the same order: by level, then by name.

Fire Pits & Backyard Fires rules by state →

Frequently Asked Questions