Fire Regulations in Nebraska (2026)
18 rules on the books across Nebraska, 4 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.
Omaha
Significant RestrictionsOmaha bans open fires, including recreational fire pits, unless you get written permission from the public works…
Read full rule →Lincoln
Some RestrictionsLincoln allows backyard recreational fires up to 8 cubic feet using only clean sawn wood. A responsible adult must…
Read full rule →Fireworks
Which types of consumer fireworks are legal, when they can be used, and the fines for setting off illegal fireworks.
Nebraska: statewide
StatewideSome RestrictionsNebraska law defines permissible consumer fireworks, restricts sale dates, and bans aerial display fireworks for…
Read full rule →Lincoln
Significant RestrictionsLincoln allows permissible fireworks only 8 a.m.-11 p.m. on July 3 and 8 a.m.-11:59 p.m. on July 4; bottle rockets…
Read full rule →Omaha
Significant RestrictionsOmaha allows consumer fireworks only during two narrow windows: July 2-4 from noon to 11 p.m., and New Year's Eve from…
Read full rule →Sarpy County
Some RestrictionsNebraska allows only 1.4G consumer fireworks, and Sarpy County plus its cities each set their own discharge dates and…
Read full rule →Brush Clearance
Requirements to clear dry vegetation around your property for wildfire prevention, including deadlines and the distance you need to maintain.
Outdoor Burning
Rules for open flames outdoors including bonfires, yard waste burning, and cooking fires. Some cities ban all outdoor burning year-round.
Nebraska: statewide
StatewideSome RestrictionsNebraska law requires written authorization from the local fire chief before any open burning, with the State Fire…
Read full rule →Lincoln
Heavy RestrictionsLincoln prohibits most outdoor burning including leaves, yard waste, and trash under LMC 8.06. Open burning requires…
Read full rule →Omaha
Significant RestrictionsOmaha bars any open fire in the city unless the public works director and fire department first grant written…
Read full rule →Sarpy County
Some RestrictionsNebraska bans open burning of bonfires, rubbish, and land-clearing fires statewide, but your local fire chief can waive…
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.
Lincoln
Heavy RestrictionsLincoln requires smoke detectors in every sleeping room, outside each sleeping area, and on every level including…
Read full rule →Omaha
Significant RestrictionsEvery sleeping room and common area in an Omaha boarding or rooming house needs a hardwired, interconnected smoke…
Read full rule →Lancaster County
Some RestrictionsNebraska state law requires the owner of every rental dwelling, apartment, mobile home, or lodging unit to supply…
Read full rule →Propane Storage
Limits on size and location of residential propane tanks, including setback distances from buildings, property lines, and ignition sources.
Nebraska: statewide
StatewideSome RestrictionsNebraska's State Fire Marshal Act and LP-Gas regulations preempt local rules on container design, installation, and…
Read full rule →Lincoln
Some RestrictionsLincoln's Gas Piping Systems Code bars LP-gas facilities from basements, pits, under show windows or stairways, and…
Read full rule →Omaha
Some RestrictionsOmaha limits residential propane storage to 2,000 gallons total capacity across no more than two tanks per property…
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