Colorado Fire Pit Codes, Permits and Clearances

Statewide Rules

Colorado has no statewide fire code that governs a backyard fire pit at a private home. The state does adopt a fire code and a wildfire code, and both are written to stay out of your yard. The fuel gas code is the exception: it covers gas piping and systems throughout Colorado.

Division of Fire Prevention and Control

The Division of Fire Prevention and Control (DFPC) adopts the 2021 International Fire Code and a set of related codes. They apply only to property under the Division's oversight.

Adopts the 2021 International Fire Code, among other codes, "as minimum standards for the construction and maintenance of all property, buildings, and structures subject to the oversight of the Colorado Department of Public Safety, Division of Fire Prevention and Control." The Applicability statement limits the rules to buildings and life safety systems under that oversight, which Article 1 lists as limited gaming structures, waste tire facilities, health facilities, public schools, fire suppression systems and fireworks.

DFPC's adopted-codes page lists the same 2021 edition.

Colorado Wildfire Resiliency Code

The 2025 Colorado Wildfire Resiliency Code (CWRC) is a separate state rule for construction in the wildland-urban interface.

An adaptation of Chapters 1, 2, 3 and 5 of the 2024 International Wildland-Urban Interface Code. It applies to "all newly constructed buildings and structures, and to significant additions, repairs, and remodels in the wildland-urban interface." Local governing bodies may adopt an alternative code that meets or exceeds it (Rule 3.3).

We found no fire pit provision in the CWRC text, so do not read it as one. Its site rules call for noncombustible hard surfaces next to the structure, 0 to 5 ft out (Section 502.1, Structure Ignition Zone 1). The code text is on the DFPC site.

Colorado Fuel Gas Code

Fuel gas is the one area where Colorado sets a rule statewide. The State Plumbing Board adopts it.

Adopts Chapters 2 to 8 of the 2024 International Fuel Gas Code, except Sections 412 and 413, and listed International Residential Code fuel gas sections, setting "the minimum standards governing the inspection, installation, alteration, and repair of fuel gas piping and systems throughout Colorado."

Those chapters include the outdoor decorative appliance rule.

Permanently fixed-in-place outdoor decorative appliances shall be listed in accordance with ANSI Z21.97 and shall be installed in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions.

Open Burning Under Regulation 9

Colorado's open-burning regulation requires a permit for burning it does not exempt, and it exempts backyard fires.

Section III.A requires an open-burning permit from the Division or an authorized local agency for burning not exempted. Section III.B.2 exempts "Fires used for noncommercial cooking of food for human consumption or recreational purposes."

County Fire Bans

A county can ban open fires where wildfire danger is high.

A board of county commissioners may "ban open fires to a degree and in a manner that the board of county commissioners deems necessary to reduce the danger of wildfires within those portions of the unincorporated areas of the county where the danger of forest or grass fires is found to be high based on competent evidence."

Whether a ban reaches gas fire pits depends on the county's ordinance. Jefferson County's fire ban ordinance, for example, cites this authority. We did not review its exemption terms.

City and County Examples

City and County of Denver

Denver's limit on wood fire pits comes from its air ordinance, not its fire code.

Adopts the 2024 International Fire Code, with amendments filed November 7, 2025 (City Clerk File No. 20250181), as the 2025 Denver Fire Code. The Denver Building and Fire Codes took effect December 31, 2025.

The Chapter 3 amendments (Sections 301, 311, 315, 316 and 317) do not touch Section 307. Section 105.5.59 keeps the open-burning permit, with "Exception: Recreational fires."

The rule that decides wood fire pits in Denver is the air ordinance, enforced by the Department of Public Health and Environment (DDPHE).

It shall be unlawful for any person to engage in or allow open burning within the city except when a written permit has been issued by the department. No permit is required for devices designed and used exclusively for outdoor noncommercial cooking of food for human consumption.

Section 4-2 defines open burning as fire or smoldering where any material is burned in the outdoor air, "or in an open container, receptacle, pit, vessel, chimenea, or other device designed or used for outdoor fires." DDPHE's Air Quality page states the result.

Open burning, including solid fuel (i.e. wood) fire pits, is prohibited in Denver County.

No operating a solid-fuel-fired device on a high-pollution day unless approved.

For gas, the Denver Fire Department has published a policy. It is older than the current code: it was written against the 2015 IFC and the 2016 Denver amendments, so treat it as the department's stated practice, not current code text.

For one- and two-family dwellings: "Listed natural gas appliances shall be permitted on patios when installed in accordance with the International Fuel Gas Code."

Propane has its own limits in the 2025 Denver Fire Code.

Section 6101.4 prohibits installing LP-gas containers and using LP-gas where a natural gas source is within 300 ft of the nearest property line, with an exception for containers used per 6103.2 and the applicable provisions of Chapters 3, 6, 31, 33 and 35. Amended 6104.2 allows one- and two-family dwellings a maximum of 40 lb of propane on the premises: two 20 lb cylinders, one in use and one spare.

How 6101.4 applies to a propane fire table is a question for Denver Fire. Ask before you order.

City of Colorado Springs

Colorado Springs adopts the 2021 International Fire Code, one edition older than Denver's 2024.

Section 8.4.102 adopts the 2021 International Fire Code with appendices, subject to the amendments in §8.4.105. Section 307.4.2 is not amended, so recreational fires stay 25 ft from a structure or combustible material.

Portable outdoor fireplaces get a narrower exception than the model code gives.

The 15 ft rule applies, with an exception for one- and two-family dwellings whose occupants follow the manufacturer's instructions and "Shall NOT operate a portable outdoor fireplace within 15 feet of a neighboring structure or combustible material, including but not limited to a tree, bush, or common fence."

Added 307.4.4 requires a functional spark arrestor on high or greater fire danger days and during burn restrictions for solid fuels (wood, charcoal, pellets), for recreational fires and all outdoor fireplaces. Added 307.1.2 lets the fire code official issue burn restrictions or burn bans. Amended 307.5 requires attendance by "a minimum of one alert, ambulatory, unimpaired, responsible adult," with an extinguisher or equivalent on hand.

Townhouses are treated differently.

Townhouses of three or more attached units do not qualify for the one- and two-family exception. Portable outdoor fireplaces must stay 15 ft from all structures and combustible material.

Getting a Permit

What is required varies by city, county and fire protection district, and the local fire official decides. This is what the sources above support.

• Wood recreational fire, statewide. No state open-burning permit (Regulation 9, §III.B.2). In unincorporated areas, check for a county fire ban (C.R.S. §30-15-401(1)(n.5)).
• Denver. Open burning, including wood fire pits, requires a written DDPHE permit (DRMC §4-24(a)(1)), and DDPHE states that wood fire pits are prohibited. Cooking-only devices are exempt.
• Colorado Springs. No permit for a recreational fire, because the amended 105.5.34 keeps "Exception: Recreational fires" and adds prescribed burns to the permit. Obey any burn restriction issued under amended 307.1.2, and use a spark arrestor when 307.4.4 applies.
• Gas fire feature. Listing and installation per the manual under the statewide fuel gas code (IFGC 635.1 via 3 CCR 720-1). We did not pull gas piping permit and inspection details, so ask your local building department.

What This Means for Your Build

Your city sets the distance. Colorado leaves it to local government, so start with your city or county. In Colorado Springs, plan on 25 ft from a structure or combustible material for a recreational fire, and 15 ft from a neighbor's structure or combustible material, trees, bushes and a common fence included, for a portable outdoor fireplace. Townhouse occupants keep 15 ft from every structure.

Denver. A wood fire pit needs a written permit, and DDPHE says wood fire pits are prohibited. The Denver Fire Department's stated practice is that a listed natural gas appliance is permitted on the patio of a one- or two-family home when it is installed per the International Fuel Gas Code. That policy is from 2019, so confirm with Denver Fire before you buy.

Gas and propane. The statewide Colorado Fuel Gas Code requires a permanent outdoor decorative appliance to be listed to ANSI Z21.97 and installed per the manufacturer's instructions, so your installation manual governs how it goes in. Run your feature type and fuel through the clearance checker for the published manufacturer minimums. Use the gas line sizing calculator to see whether your existing line can feed the burner, and hire a licensed installer for the work. In Denver, propane is capped at two 20 lb cylinders for a one- or two-family home, with one in use and one spare. The propane tank runtime calculator shows how many hours a cylinder gives you at your burner's output.

Counties and fire protection districts can add rules of their own, and your fire official's reading governs.