Fire Regulations in Alabama (2026)
33 rules on the books across Alabama, 10 cities and counties. Select a rule to read the full details.
Severity: Few Restrictions · Light Restrictions · Some Restrictions · Significant Restrictions · Heavy Restrictions
Fire Pits & Backyard Fires
Rules for fire pits, chimineas, and recreational backyard fires, setback distances from structures, size and fuel limits, attendance requirements, and burn-ban days.
Birmingham
Some RestrictionsA backyard recreational fire in Birmingham is allowed mainly during the November-through-March window, because…
Read full rule →Huntsville
Some RestrictionsHuntsville allows portable outdoor fire pits at one- and two-family homes without a permit, but requires a masonry…
Read full rule →Madison
Some RestrictionsMadison generally bans open burning, but backyard fire pits are permitted. The City's guidance states fire pits are…
Read full rule →Montgomery
Light RestrictionsMontgomery lets residents keep a recreational or cooking fire without a burn permit as long as it burns only charcoal…
Read full rule →Tuscaloosa
Few RestrictionsTuscaloosa requires a city permit for open burning citywide, but Sec. 11-28(b)(1)c carves out fires for recreational or…
Read full rule →Fireworks
Which types of consumer fireworks are legal, when they can be used, and the fines for setting off illegal fireworks.
Alabama: statewide
StatewideSome RestrictionsAlabama licenses fireworks manufacturers and retailers statewide through the State Fire Marshal under Title 8, Chapter…
Read full rule →Auburn
Heavy RestrictionsAuburn bans selling, giving away, or discharging firecrackers, skyrockets, Roman candles, or any other fireworks…
Read full rule →Birmingham
Heavy RestrictionsOnly Class C 'common' consumer fireworks are legal in Alabama, and Birmingham city code separately prohibits…
Read full rule →Hoover
Heavy RestrictionsHoover prohibits fireworks and explosive devices inside every athletic, lake, and playground park facility in the city…
Read full rule →Montgomery
Heavy RestrictionsMontgomery bans possessing, storing, selling, or setting off fireworks anywhere in the city, with no exception for…
Read full rule →Tuscaloosa
Heavy RestrictionsTuscaloosa bans the possession, manufacture, storage, sale, handling and use of fireworks anywhere in the city under…
Read full rule →Vestavia Hills
Heavy RestrictionsVestavia Hills bans selling, possessing, using, storing or manufacturing fireworks anywhere inside the city limits…
Read full rule →Huntsville
Significant RestrictionsHuntsville bans possessing, manufacturing, storing, selling or using fireworks under Sec. 13-33, except for permitted…
Read full rule →Jefferson County
Significant RestrictionsUnincorporated Jefferson County allows seasonal fireworks stands only in the C-1 Commercial District, and only under a…
Read full rule →Mobile
Significant RestrictionsMobile bans possessing, selling, or using fireworks year-round, but allows consumer-grade fireworks on New Year's…
Read full rule →Outdoor Burning
Rules for open flames outdoors including bonfires, yard waste burning, and cooking fires. Some cities ban all outdoor burning year-round.
Alabama: statewide
StatewideHeavy RestrictionsAlabama requires a state burn permit from the Alabama Forestry Commission for most outdoor burning of forest, grass…
Read full rule →Birmingham
Heavy RestrictionsBirmingham is in Jefferson County, where the County Board of Health bans open outdoor burning from April through…
Read full rule →Auburn
Significant RestrictionsAuburn caps residential open-burn permits at 60 days and contractor burn permits at 30 days and a single site, under…
Read full rule →Hoover
Significant RestrictionsHoover's park code bans gathering firewood, building campfires, or burning any material inside its designated…
Read full rule →Huntsville
Significant RestrictionsHuntsville bans open burning citywide unless the fire marshal or the environmental management director issues an open…
Read full rule →Montgomery
Significant RestrictionsMontgomery bans kindling any open fire anywhere in the city without a burn permit from the fire department first, and…
Read full rule →Tuscaloosa
Significant RestrictionsTuscaloosa bans open burning citywide unless the fire is covered by a permit or falls under one of three listed…
Read full rule →Madison
Some RestrictionsOpen burning of any type is illegal in the City of Madison. Burning yard waste, brush, trash, or construction debris is…
Read full rule →Wildfire Zones
Special building and landscaping requirements for properties located in designated wildfire hazard areas or fire severity zones.
Smoke Detectors
Requirements for smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors in homes, including how many you need and where they must be installed.
Hoover
Some RestrictionsHoover's amended Property Maintenance Code requires approved smoke alarms in every existing dwelling unit and hotel or…
Read full rule →Huntsville
Some RestrictionsEvery dwelling unit in Huntsville must have a hardwired smoke detector that sounds in all sleeping rooms, per City Code…
Read full rule →Mobile
Some RestrictionsMobile's amended Fire Code doesn't just require smoke alarms, it requires proof they still work. Apartment, hotel and…
Read full rule →Tuscaloosa
Some RestrictionsTuscaloosa's Property Maintenance Code requires smoke alarms in rental buildings to be AC-powered with battery backup…
Read full rule →Vestavia Hills
Some RestrictionsVestavia Hills adopted the 2021 International Residential Code as its residential code, then locally amended R314.3.2…
Read full rule →Propane Storage
Limits on size and location of residential propane tanks, including setback distances from buildings, property lines, and ignition sources.
Alabama: statewide
StatewideHeavy RestrictionsThe Alabama Liquefied Petroleum Gas Board regulates the storage, handling, transportation, and installation of propane…
Read full rule →Huntsville
Some RestrictionsHuntsville's Fire Code caps LP-gas storage in populated or congested areas at a 2,000-gallon aggregate water capacity…
Read full rule →Tuscaloosa
Some RestrictionsMobile home parks in Tuscaloosa must keep LP-gas containers between 25 and 100 pounds capacity, securely fastened…
Read full rule →Hoover
Light RestrictionsHoover's fire code amendment ties liquefied petroleum gas storage limits in populated areas to whatever the adopted…
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