How Far Should a Fire Pit Be From a House in USA

U.S. Fire Pit Regulations: Distance from House by State (as of September 27, 2025) in the USA

Outdoor Firepit_2

Fire pits are typically regulated under state-adopted versions of the International Fire Code (IFC), particularly Section 307 (Open Burning, Recreational Fires, and Outdoor Fireplaces). Most states adopt the IFC (e.g., 2021 edition) with local amendments enforced by counties, cities, or municipalities. Fire pits are often classified as:

Recreational fires: ≤3 ft diameter, ≤2 ft height, open flames (not in grills/pits).
Portable outdoor fireplaces: Contain fire, often with spark arresters.
Bonfires: Larger, stricter rules.

Key statewide provision (IFC §307.4.2): Recreational fires must be 25 ft from structures/combustibles. Portable fireplaces: 15 ft (multi-family) or 3 ft (single-family with arrester). Bonfires: 50 ft unless in approved pit. Gas/propane pits often have relaxed rules (10-15 ft) as they’re not “open burning.” High-fire zones (e.g., WUI) add buffers. Always verify locally via fire marshal or .gov sites, as amendments vary.

State-by-State Summary

Below is a state-by-state summary based on adopted codes, official fire marshal sites, and consolidated regulations. Where states lack specific statewide rules, they defer to IFC/local ordinances (noted). Data sourced from state fire codes, ICC adoptions, and guides like NFPA/We Love Fire (2024-2025 updates).

State	Adopted Fire Code	Key Regulation(s)	Minimum Distance from House/Structure
Alabama	2018 IFC (local enforcement)	Recreational fires; check drought bans.	25 ft for open pits; 10-15 ft gas. Local (e.g., Birmingham: 25 ft).
Alaska	2018 IFC (amended for rural areas)	Outdoor fireplaces; permits in municipalities.	25 ft recreational; 15 ft portable. Statewide via AK Fire Marshal.
Arizona	2018 IFC (State Fire Marshal)	ARS §37-1381; WUI zones stricter.	25 ft open; 15 ft portable. Phoenix: 30 ft in high-risk.
Arkansas	2018 IFC (local)	Recreational fires; burn permits required.	25 ft standard; 50 ft bonfires. Little Rock: 25 ft.
California	2022 CFC (Title 24, Part 9)	§307.6.2 Outdoor Fireplaces; PRC §4291 Defensible Space.	25 ft recreational; 15 ft portable (other R); 3 ft single-family w/arrestor. WUI: +5-100 ft.
Colorado	2018 IFC (local)	§307 Open Burning; Red Flag bans.	25 ft recreational; 15 ft portable. Fort Collins: 15 ft pits.
Connecticut	2021 IFC (State Fire Marshal)	Recreational fires; no statewide ban.	25 ft open; 10 ft gas. Local (e.g., Hartford: 25 ft).
Delaware	2018 IFC (local)	Outdoor burning regulated locally.	25 ft standard; Dover: 20 ft from combustibles.
Florida	2020 Florida Fire Prevention Code (IFC base)	FAC §69A-3; open burning setbacks.	10 ft pits from structures; 25 ft wildlands. Miami-Dade: 25 ft.
Georgia	2018 IFC (State Minimum Standard)	§307; local amendments.	25 ft recreational; 15 ft portable. Atlanta: 25 ft.
Hawaii	2018 IFC (County of Hawaii Fire Code)	Recreational fires; volcano/high-fire rules.	25 ft open; 15 ft portable. Honolulu: 25 ft.
Idaho	2018 IFC (local)	Open burning permits via DEQ.	25 ft standard; Boise: 30 ft in dry seasons.
Illinois	2019 IFC (local)	Recreational fires; Chicago-specific.	25 ft open; 15 ft portable. Chicago: 25 ft, spark screen req.
Indiana	2014 IFC (updated 2021 locally)	§307; burn permits.	25 ft recreational; 50 ft bonfires. Indianapolis: 25 ft.
Iowa	2015 IFC (local)	Open burning rules via DNR.	25 ft standard; Des Moines: 20 ft gas.
Kansas	No statewide; local IFC (2018)	Recreational fires.	25 ft open; Wichita: 25 ft.
Kentucky	2019 IFC (local)	§307; burn bans.	25 ft recreational; Louisville: 25 ft.
Louisiana	2015 IFC (local)	Open burning via DEQ.	25 ft standard; New Orleans: 25 ft.
Maine	2018 IFC (State Fire Marshal)	Recreational fires; coastal rules.	25 ft open; 15 ft portable. Portland: 25 ft.
Maryland	2018 IFC (local)	§307; burn permits.	25 ft recreational; Baltimore: 25 ft.
Massachusetts	9th Ed. (2021 IFC base)	527 CMR 23; local enforcement.	25 ft open; 10 ft gas. Boston: 25 ft.
Michigan	2015 Michigan Fire Prevention Code (IFC)	Public Act 207; permits.	25 ft recreational; Detroit: 25 ft.
Minnesota	2015 Minnesota State Fire Code (IFC)	§307; DNR burning.	25 ft standard; Minneapolis: 25 ft.
Mississippi	No statewide; local IFC (2018)	Recreational fires <3 ft wide.	25 ft from structures; Jackson: 25 ft.
Missouri	No statewide; local IFC (2018)	Open burning <3 ft wide.	25 ft clearance; Kansas City: 25 ft.
Montana	2018 IFC (local)	DNRC burning permits.	25 ft recreational; Missoula: 30 ft WUI.
Nebraska	No statewide; local IFC (2018)	Permits locally; <3 ft wide.	25 ft from structures; Omaha: 25 ft.
Nevada	2018 IFC (State Fire Marshal)	NAC 477; dry bans.	25 ft open; 15 ft portable. Las Vegas: 25 ft.
New Hampshire	2018 IFC (local)	RSA 153; fire warden permits.	25 ft recreational; Manchester: 25 ft.
New Jersey	2018 UFC (IFC base)	N.J.A.C. 5:70; no open burning except recreational.	25 ft open; chimeneas 15 ft. Local zoning for permanent.
New Mexico	2018 IFC (local)	EMNRD burning.	25 ft standard; Albuquerque: 25 ft.
New York	2020 NYSFC (IFC base)	19 NYCRR Part 1225; §307.4.3 Bonfires.	50 ft bonfires (25 ft in pit); 25 ft recreational. NYC: 25 ft.
North Carolina	2018 NCFC (IFC)	§307; local amendments.	25 ft open; Raleigh: 25 ft.
North Dakota	2017 IFC (local)	NDCC 18-07; permits.	25 ft recreational; Fargo: 25 ft.
Ohio	2019 OFC (IFC base)	OAC 1301:7-7-3; local.	25 ft standard; Columbus: 25 ft.
Oklahoma	2019 IFC (local)	Open burning via DEQ.	25 ft recreational; OKC: 25 ft.
Oregon	2019 IFC (State Fire Marshal)	OAR 476; WUI rules.	25 ft open; Portland: 15 ft portable.
Pennsylvania	2018 IFC (Uniform Construction Code)	Local enforcement.	25 ft recreational; Philly: 25 ft.
Rhode Island	2018 IFC (local)	Fire Marshal rules.	25 ft standard; Providence: 25 ft.
South Carolina	2021 SCFC (IFC)	S.C. Code §6-9; §307.	25 ft open; Charleston: 25 ft.
South Dakota	2018 IFC (local)	Open burning permits.	25 ft recreational; Sioux Falls: 25 ft.
Tennessee	2018 IFC (local)	TCA 68-120; burn permits.	25 ft standard; Nashville: 25 ft.
Texas	Local IFC (2021 in many); no statewide	Various local codes.	25 ft recreational; Austin: 25 ft. Houston: 20 ft gas.
Utah	2018 UFC (IFC base)	§307; state forestry.	25 ft open; Salt Lake: 25 ft.
Vermont	2018 IFC (local)	VFS rules; permits.	25 ft standard; Burlington: 25 ft.
Virginia	2018 VFC (IFC)	§307; local amendments.	25 ft recreational; Richmond: 25 ft.
Washington	2021 WAC 51-54A (IFC)	§307; PSCAA bans in urban.	25 ft recreational; 15 ft portable. Whatcom Co.: 25 ft.
West Virginia	2019 WV State Fire Code (IFC)	CSR 103-9; §307.	25 ft open; Charleston: 25 ft.
Wisconsin	2019 SPS 314 (IFC base)	Open burning via DNR.	25 ft standard; Milwaukee: 25 ft.
Wyoming	2018 IFC (local)	Open burning permits.	25 ft recreational; Cheyenne: 25 ft.

Key Notes and Variations

IFC Adoption: 49 states + DC use IFC (editions vary 2015-2021); Kansas/Missouri defer fully to local. Updates as of 2025; e.g., CA/WA have 2022/2021.
Gas vs. Wood: Gas pits (propane) often 10-15 ft (not “open flame”); wood stricter due to embers/bans.
High-Risk Areas: Add 10-50 ft in WUI (e.g., CA, CO, AZ, WA); check CAL FIRE/NFPA maps.
Permits/Bans: $25-100 for burns; frequent in dry seasons (e.g., FL 150 ft for some open burns). Fines $100-1,000+.
Local Overrides: Always contact state fire marshal (e.g., via nfpa.org or state .gov) or use Municode/Qcode for cities/counties. E.g., NYC: 25 ft w/screen; San Diego Co.: 25 ft open, 15 ft portable.

For site-specific, search “[state] fire marshal fire pit” on .gov sites. Regulations evolve; verify 2025 updates.