Key facts
| City | Setback | Size limit | Main restrictions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Albuquerque, NM | 25 ft; portable fireplaces 15 ft | 3 ft across, 3 ft high | Call the Burn/No-Burn Hotline first; wood only; stop if wind exceeds 15 mph |
| Boise, ID | 25 ft; portable fireplaces 15 ft | 3 ft across, 2 ft high | No burning at DEQ AQI 60 or higher; Foothills need written permission |
| Des Moines, IA | 25 ft | 3 ft across, 2 ft high | Cooking only; out when cooking ends; $250 then $500 fines |
| Wichita, KS | 25 ft; portable fireplaces 15 ft | 3 ft across, 2 ft high | No burning in a burn ban or winds over 15 mph; firewood, limbs and chips only |
| Omaha, NE | 15 ft | 36 in across, 24 in high | Open burning banned; approved fuels only; 4A extinguisher |
Sources: Albuquerque Fire Rescue open burning FAQs; Boise Fire open burning regulations; Des Moines recreation and cooking fire FAQ (Polk County); Wichita recreational fire pit rules; Omaha Fire burn policy; Sedgwick County burn ban release; Bernalillo County open burning ban; Albuquerque Journal, May 28, 2026; New Mexico State Forestry, 2026 fire restrictions rescinded. Checked October 25, 2026.
Albuquerque: call first, watch the wind
Albuquerque needs no permit for a recreational fire, but asks residents to call the Burn/No-Burn Hotline at (505) 768-2876 before lighting. Fires must be 25 feet from structures and combustibles, burn wood only, stay within 3 feet across and 3 feet high, and stop when wind exceeds 15 mph. Portable outdoor fireplaces need 15 feet. Keep a 4A extinguisher or a hose ready. Outside city limits, Bernalillo County commissioners voted 4 to 0 on May 27, 2026 to ban all open burning, including campfires, in unincorporated areas, and we found no notice lifting that county ban on bernco.gov when we checked on October 25, 2026, so call the county before burning if you live outside the city. The Albuquerque Journal reported on May 28, 2026 that the ban was approved for the next 90 days and that the fire chief may suspend it; we found no county notice extending or lifting it. Separately, New Mexico State Forestry rescinded the fire restrictions it imposed on April 6, 2026 for non-federal, non-tribal and non-municipal lands, effective 8 a.m. on September 28, 2026. That state order does not lift the separate county ban.
Boise: the AQI 60 cutoff
Boise needs no permit for recreational fires or portable outdoor fireplaces outside restricted areas. The setbacks are 25 feet for a recreational fire and 15 feet for a portable fireplace, and a pit may be 3 feet across and 2 feet high. The rule that catches people is air quality: all burning is prohibited when DEQ's air quality index reaches 60 or higher, which can happen during winter inversions or summer wildfire smoke. In the Foothills wildland-urban interface, burning needs the Fire Marshal's written permission under city code 5-12-49. Idaho DEQ also says burning is always prohibited during a DEQ burn ban.
Des Moines: cooking fires only
Des Moines is the strictest city in this list. Its FAQ says recreational fires are not allowed unless used only for cooking, in a compliant appliance, and put out when the cooking is finished. The pit may be 3 feet across and 2 feet high and must sit 25 feet from structures. The Fire Prevention Bureau's device chart allows gas or other clean burning fire pits at one and two family homes, but not on multifamily or commercial balconies or decks, and wood pits are not allowed at apartments or condos at all. Open burning needs a Polk County Air Quality permit, and fines run $250 and then $500. A pit with a grill grate or a cooking ring fits the rule better than a purely decorative bowl.
Wichita: wind and burn bans
Wichita's rules set 25 feet for recreational fires and 15 feet for portable outdoor fireplaces on a noncombustible surface. Portable units may not be used on balconies or wood decks except at one and two family homes, and no fire may burn within 500 feet of a wood shake roof without a spark arrestor. Fuel is limited to firewood, limbs and chips, and no fire is allowed during a burn ban or in winds over 15 mph. Sedgwick County Fire District 1 and area departments banned open burning, chimineas and outdoor fireplaces from September 2 to September 11, 2026, so bans are real here in dry spells.
Omaha: 15 feet and 36 inches
Omaha bans open burning in city limits but allows barbecue cooking, portable outdoor fireplaces and noncombustible pits and rings 15 feet from structures without a permit. Pits may be up to 36 inches across and 24 inches high, and uncontained campfires are not allowed. Approved fuels are charcoal, clean dry firewood, manufactured fire logs, clean untreated lumber and gas. Keep a 4A rated extinguisher nearby. Fire crews may order out a fire that creates objectionable smoke.
Choosing a pit that fits
Size limits matter when you shop. A 36 inch bowl fits every city in this list, while a 40 inch bowl, like several large steel fire bowls, exceeds Omaha's 36 inch cap and the 3 foot limit in the other four cities if measured at the rim. In Des Moines, buy a pit you will actually cook on. Where wind or bans often rule out wood, a propane fire pit covers more evenings; our wood vs gas vs smokeless guide compares the options, and the fire pit distance guide explains setbacks in general.
Related guides
- Fire pit rules in New York City, Philadelphia and Atlanta
- Fire pit rules in Anchorage, Honolulu, Fargo, Bismarck, Charleston WV and Cheyenne
- Fire pit rules in Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Connecticut and Rhode Island
- Fire pit rules in Indianapolis and Oklahoma City
- How far should a fire pit be from the house?
- Utah no-burn days and fire pits
- Arteflame vs Breeo
- Wood vs gas vs smokeless fire pits
- Fire pit rules in Chicago, Dallas and North Las Vegas
Frequently asked questions
Can I have a fire pit in Des Moines?
Only for cooking. Des Moines' fire FAQ says recreational fires are not allowed unless the fire is used only for cooking in a compliant appliance and put out when cooking ends. Pits are limited to 3 feet across and 2 feet high and must be 25 feet from structures.
How far from my house does a fire pit need to be in Omaha?
Omaha allows noncombustible pits and rings 15 feet from structures, up to 36 inches across and 24 inches high, with no permit.
Do I need to call before a backyard fire in Albuquerque?
Yes. Albuquerque asks residents to call the Burn/No-Burn Hotline at (505) 768-2876 before any recreational fire.
When are fire pits banned in Boise?
All burning is prohibited when DEQ's air quality index is 60 or higher, and the Foothills wildland-urban interface needs the Fire Marshal's written permission.
Can I use a fire pit on my deck in Wichita?
Portable outdoor fireplaces may not be used on balconies or wood decks, except at one and two family homes, and they must sit on a noncombustible surface 15 feet from structures.
What size fire pit is allowed in these cities?
Albuquerque allows 3 feet across and 3 feet high. Boise, Des Moines and Wichita allow 3 feet across and 2 feet high. Omaha allows 36 inches across and 24 inches high.
Does a 40 inch fire pit fit Omaha's rule?
Omaha caps pits at 36 inches in diameter, so a 40 inch bowl is wider than the limit. Choose a smaller pit or ask Omaha Fire whether the burn area, not the outer rim, is what counts.
Keep reading
Browse our fire pits collection, see all guides, or ask us a question about your project.