Denver Fire Pit Laws: Wood, Gas and Propane Rules

What the City Code Says

Denver adopts the 2024 International Fire Code, with its own amendments, as the 2025 Denver Fire Code, effective December 31, 2025. The amendments do not touch Section 307, so the model code's 25 ft distance for a recreational fire stands.

The 2024 International Fire Code and the amendments filed on November 7, 2025 "are hereby adopted as the 2025 Denver Fire Code."

The fire code does not decide a wood fire pit. Denver's air ordinance does, and the Department of Public Health and Environment (DDPHE) administers it.

"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." Devices used exclusively for outdoor noncommercial cooking are exempt.

Section 4-2 defines open burning as fire where any material is burned outdoors or "in an open container, receptacle, pit, vessel, chimenea, or other device designed or used for outdoor fires." DDPHE reads that as covering wood: "Open burning, including solid fuel (i.e. wood) fire pits, is prohibited in Denver County." DDPHE may weigh the location, the weather and whether the burn has a purpose other than aesthetic.

The pages say prohibited, and the ordinance allows a permit. The ordinance is the code.

Gas is where the sources part. The ordinance names no fuel, and DDPHE's page does not address gas fire pits. Denver Fire's Home Fire Safety page names the fuels, under its heading on fire pits, chimineas and open fires.

Open burning of wood "(or any products other than propane, natural gas, or charcoal briquettes) is outlawed in Denver without permits." Permits are rarely issued to individuals and never for chimineas.

So Denver Fire's page leaves propane and natural gas out of the open burning it says needs permits, though it never uses the words gas fire pit. It carries no posted date, and its balcony grill section describes Denver amendments that the 2025 Denver Fire Code no longer contains. The ordinance text is silent. We found no DDPHE statement on gas and no distance written for a gas fire pit, so the installation manual sets it. Use the clearance checker.

Burn Bans and No-Burn Days

Denver's air quality page says high-pollution day, not no-burn day. The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) declares them, particularly in winter.

"It shall be unlawful for any person to operate a solid-fuel-fired device during a high-pollution day unless the device has been approved by the department or the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment."

Section 4-2 defines that device as one "designed for the combustion of solid fuels" and says such devices "do not include natural gas-fired devices." Propane is not named, and no Denver source rules on it in words.

CDPHE's Action Day pages cover indoor burning devices in Denver and six nearby counties. They allow a masonry fireplace with gas logs and say nothing about outdoor gas fire pits. For ozone days CDPHE says "Mandatory outdoor burning restrictions are in effect for the ozone non-attainment area," without defining the term or mentioning gas.

We found no Denver rule naming who declares a fire ban on private property. The model code lets the fire code official stop open burning when conditions make it hazardous (2024 International Fire Code, 307.1.1 and 307.3). We state no live ban status. Check DDPHE's air quality page and CDPHE's advisories.

Gas and Propane

Denver adopts the 2024 International Fuel Gas Code in its building code. Its fuel gas amendments change piping rules, not Section 635, so the model text applies.

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.

One Denver amendment matters to a gas line: copper and copper alloy pipe and tubing shall not be used.

One- and two-family dwellings built under the Denver Residential Code may have 40 lb of propane on the premises, two 20 lb cylinders with one in use and one spare. Townhouses, condominiums and apartments may keep one 20 lb cylinder in each detached garage or detached storage area. Section 6101.4 bars LP-gas where a natural gas source is within 300 ft of the nearest property line, with exceptions.

Ask Denver Fire how either rule applies to a propane fire table. Its fee schedule says "Any amount requires a permit" for LP-gas use and storage, and we found nothing on whether that reaches a household cylinder.

Community Planning and Development permits gas piping. For single-family and duplex structures and garages, its quick permit list names gas piping as a mechanical permit and gas piping outlets as a plumbing permit. It does not mention yard or patio lines, so ask the permit office. Denver's code says "Licenses shall be required for any work requiring a permit," so hire a plumbing or mechanical contractor licensed in Denver.

Permits and Who to Call

• Wood fire pit. A written open burning permit from DDPHE under section 4-24. Denver Fire's page lists the health department at 720-865-5452, and it says open burning takes permits from two agencies, the health department and the Fire Prevention and Investigation Division. Fire permits are applied for online.
• Gas or propane fire pit. Denver Fire's page leaves propane and natural gas out of the open burning that needs permits. The ordinance does not say, so confirm with the Fire Prevention Division at 720-913-3474.
• Gas line. Community Planning and Development, through a licensed contractor.

Phone numbers are as printed on 2026-10-15. For the statewide picture, see Colorado fire pit laws. The local authority having jurisdiction decides, so ask before you buy.