Request For A Outside Fire Pit Permit
See: Sec. 8-4.22 "Heating and Burning Within City".
Sec. 8-4.22.1 Definitions.
For purposes of this section, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly implies
otherwise:
Bonfire: A large fire built outside a containment structure upon the ground for recreational or
ceremonial purposes limited to a size of generally no greater than five (5) feet long, five (5) feet
wide and five (5) feet in height.
Open Burning: Open burning wherein the products of combustion are emitted directly into the
ambient air without passing through a stack or chimney from an enclosed chamber.
Recreational or Ceremonial Burning: Open burning which occurs for pleasure, religious,
ceremonial, cooking, warmth or similar purposes, including but not limited to, bonfires or
campfires.
Alternative Heating Device: Any solid fuel or other heating unit, designed to heat an area of a
structure, which is not portable and not considered a central heating device.
Central Heating Units: Central heating unit is any unit designed to provide heat throughout a
building or structure.
Sec. 8-4.22.2 General.
(a) Permits to burn combustibles outside shall be obtained from the Fire Department and issued on a
case by case basis. Determination of issuing the permit will be based on the daily weather, State issued
class day, materials to be burned, location of the burning and other factors of the burn decided by the
Fire Department.
(b) No burning shall be permitted on any beach, public or private.
(c) A fire must be fueled by clean, seasoned fire wood, natural gas or other clean burning fuel, with
emissions equal to or less than that created be seasoned firewood.
(d) The use of gasoline, motor oil or other similar petroleum-based products, as accelerants for a fire
are prohibited.
(e) Upon a written complaint of the fire and/or smoke from the fire, the Fire Department shall request
the extinguishment of the fire by the permit holder. The fire shall be immediately extinguished.
Sec. 8-4.22.3 Open Fires.
(a) Open burning within the City shall be prohibited without a permit obtained from the Fire
Department with the exception of approved barbeque grills.
(b) Permitted open fires shall be located not less than 50 feet from any structure.
(c) Any open burning shall be attended at all times by a competent person eighteen (18) years of age or
older capable of recognizing the dangerous condition and extinguishment of the fire. Adequate tools and
equipment including a garden hose connected to the water supply shall be present to extinguish the fire
upon request, if fire becomes unmanageable, or at completion of the burn. Upon completion of the fire,
the fire shall be completely extinguished and the coals shall be cold. The permit holder of the fire shall
be responsible and liable for any damage done by a fire which spreads beyond their control.
(d) No open burning shall produce malodorous fumes detectible beyond the property line which
adversely affects the reasonable health, safety, use, occupancy and /or welfare of others.
(e) The burning of domestic refuse shall be prohibited.
(f) The burning of construction materials, wire insulation, and other non-typical materials shall be
prohibited.
(g) No open burning shall be permitted within any street right-of-way, gutter, or swale.
(h) Permits may be granted for the burning of leaves and small yard brush. Burning shall be in small
amounts. There shall be no burning of slash, lot clearing materials, stumps, etc. within the City.
(i) Open burning shall be in a cleared protected area on the permit holder’s property. No fire shall be tended in an area of other combustible or hazardous materials.
Sec. 8-4.22.4 Recreational Fires.
(a) Permitted recreational fires shall not be located within 25 feet of a structure or combustible material
unless contained in an approved manner.
(b) No permit shall be required for a recreational fire after the initial inspection of the site by the Fire
Department.
(c) No recreational fire shall be started or allowed to continue burning when the wind direction or wind
speed will cause, smoke, embers or other burning materials to create a nuisance for neighboring property
owners. The fire shall be completely extinguished immediately upon the written complaint of any
smoke or odor nuisance.
(d) With the exception of U.L. approved barbeque devices no other burning device shall be used on a
combustible deck or patio. U.L approved barbeque devices shall not be placed closer than 36 inches
from combustibles unless approved within the listing of the device. For other than one- and two-family
dwellings, no hibachi, gas-fired grill, charcoal grill or other similar devices used for cooking, heating, or
any other purpose, shall be used or kindled on any balcony or under any overhanging portion or within
10 feet of any structure.
(e) Cooking fires may be allowed by the Fire Department. Cooking fires shall be in an approved
location. A permit shall be issued for an approved cooking fire with notification to the Fire Department
upon commencement and extinguishment of the fire.
(f) Permanent fire pits shall comply with the following requirements:
(i) The diameter of the pit shall not exceed three (3) feet;
(ii) The depth of the pit shall be one (1) to two (2) feet deep domed by a mesh wire screen and
shall be covered when not in use;
(iii) The top of the rim of the pit shall be lined with rock, concrete, brick or steel, that is twelve
(12) inches wide all around the perimeter; and
(iv) The fire pit shall not be located within six (6) feet of combustibles or structures.
Sec. 8-4.22.5 Bonfires.
(a) A written request shall be submitted at least ten (10) days in advance of the proposed bonfire to the
Fire Department accompanied by a site plan of the property depicting all structures on the premises and
the location of the proposed bonfire.
(b) The bonfire shall be at least fifty (50) feet from any property line or structure.
(c) The bonfire shall be no larger than five (5) feet in width, five (5) feet in length and five (5) feet in
height.
(d) The bonfire shall not be placed under any overhead wires, trees or similar vegetation, and all brush,
leaves, branches, or other combustible materials shall be cleared within twenty-five (25) feet of the
diameter of the bonfire.
(e) The person conducting the bonfire must notify the Fire Department two hours in advance of the
bonfire commencing.
(f) The bonfire shall be attended at all times.
(g) The bonfire shall not last more than three hours.
(h) The bonfire shall be completely extinguished, including smoldering, before it is left unattended.
(i) Precautions shall be taken to regulate, control and extinguish the bonfire through the use of fire
extinguishers, water hoses, dirt sand or other fire extinguishing equipment which shall be readily
available at the site of the bonfire for immediate utilization.
(j) If because of weather, atmospheric or other conditions, any open burning would be in the judgment
of the Fire Department to constitute a general danger or threat to property or persons in the City, the Fire
Department may prohibit any open burning until such danger, in their opinion is no longer present.
Sec. 8-4.22.6. Exceptions.
(a) The burning and/or use of: candles, lanterns, lamps, insect repellant torches, Tiki type torches,
fireplaces, cigarettes, cigars, pipes, charcoal cookers, braziers, hibachis, barbecue grills or any
flammable liquid or liquefied gas fire stoves or similar devices maintained and used solely for the
preparation of food on the premises of the owner or occupant and used as per manufactures
recommendations are not applicable to this Article.