Recreational Fire Pit Requirements

Burn bans

• Be aware of any weather-prompted burn bans--prohibitions against outdoor fires--that may be in effect in your area. If there's a burn ban in place and you start a fire in your fire pit, you could face fines or start an unwanted fire elsewhere.

Location

• For optimum safety, an in-ground or manufactured fire pit should be at minimum 50 feet from any structure. Have a bucket of water or other fire-extinguishing equipment on hand to prevent the fire from expanding past the fire pit.

Monitoring

• Any recreational fire pit must be constantly monitored until the fire is completely out, whether it burns out naturally or is extinguished. The person responsible for the fire should also keep small children and pets from getting too close to the fire.

Screening

• Manufactured fire pits should be at least 3 feet in diameter or 3 feet square and at least 2 feet high. They should be covered with mesh or screen to keep sparks and embers from escaping.