Key facts
- Puget Sound Clean Air covers King, Kitsap, Pierce and Snohomish counties.
- Stage 1 and Stage 2: "All outdoor burning is prohibited... This includes wood- and charcoal-fueled recreational fires."
- Smokeless wood pits are wood fires. No exemption found.
- Seattle and Portland: recreational fires at most 3 ft wide by 2 ft high, at least 25 ft from structures.
- Portable outdoor fireplaces: 15 ft, but single-family homes and duplexes are exempt in both cities.
Sources: Puget Sound Clean Air burn bans and FAQ; Seattle Fire CAM 5022 (updated Oct 2024); Portland Fire and Rescue FIR-3.08.
What is allowed, by fire type
| Fire type | Stage 1 ban (PSCAA) | Stage 2 ban (PSCAA) | No ban |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wood fire pit | Prohibited | Prohibited | Allowed within local fire code |
| Smokeless wood pit | Prohibited (no exemption found) | Prohibited | Allowed within local fire code |
| Charcoal | Prohibited | Prohibited | Allowed within local fire code |
| Gas or propane fire table | Not named in ban text; check the notice | Not named; check the notice | Per listing and maker clearances |
Seattle vs Portland rules
| Rule | Seattle | Portland |
|---|---|---|
| Recreational fire size | 3 ft diameter by 2 ft high max | 3 ft diameter by 2 ft high max |
| Distance from structures | 25 ft | 25 ft |
| Portable outdoor fireplace | 15 ft, not on deck or balcony; houses and duplexes exempt from 15 ft | 15 ft, per maker; one and two family homes exempt from 15 ft |
| During burn bans | Not allowed | Not allowed |
| Attendance and gear | Adult present; shovel and 2 buckets, charged hose, or 4-A extinguisher | Constant attendance; clean, dry, untreated firewood only |
Neither city's document sets clearances for gas fire pits. Gas appliances follow their listing and the maker's instructions.
Before you light a fire
- Check pscleanair.gov (or your regional agency) for an air quality burn ban.
- Check your city for a summer fire safety burn ban, which is a separate program.
- Measure 25 feet from structures and combustibles for a wood fire.
- Have a hose, buckets or a 4-A extinguisher ready.
- Stay with the fire until it is out.
Related guides
- Louisiana burn ban 2026: fire pits, propane, grills and smokers
- Fire pit firewood in Washington and Oregon: what you can burn, buy and move
- Can you use a propane fire pit during a summer burn ban in Washington or Oregon?
- The best fire pits of 2026, ranked by use case
- Wood vs gas vs smokeless fire pit
- How far a fire pit must be from a house
- Oregon and Vancouver fire pit burn restrictions
- Fire pit collection
- Made in USA
- Wood-burning sauna stoves in Washington and Oregon: permits, burn bans, clearances
Frequently asked questions
Can I use a fire pit during a burn ban in Washington?
Not a wood or charcoal one during a Puget Sound Clean Air Agency ban. In King, Kitsap, Pierce and Snohomish counties, both Stage 1 and Stage 2 air quality bans prohibit all outdoor burning, including wood and charcoal recreational fires. Gas fire tables are not named in that text, so check the specific ban notice before lighting one.
What is the difference between a Stage 1 and Stage 2 burn ban?
Per Puget Sound Clean Air, Stage 1 bans burning in wood fireplaces and uncertified stoves or inserts, unless it is your only heat source and you hold an exemption, and bans all outdoor burning. Stage 2 bans burning in any wood fireplace, stove, insert or pellet stove, certified or not, and also bans all outdoor burning.
Are smokeless fire pits allowed during a burn ban?
No exemption was found. Smokeless pits such as Breeo and Solo Stove still burn wood, so they fall under the ban on wood-fueled recreational fires. A cleaner burn does not change the fuel type. Wait until the ban lifts, or use a gas fire table if the specific ban and your city allow it.
Are propane fire pits allowed during a burn ban?
It depends on which ban. Puget Sound Clean Air's air quality ban text names wood and charcoal and does not explicitly address gas. Some King County cities, such as Mercer Island and Redmond, explicitly allow propane and natural gas fire tables during summer fire safety Stage 2 bans. Air quality bans and fire safety bans are separate programs.
When does Puget Sound Clean Air call a burn ban?
A Stage 1 ban is called when fine particle pollution (PM2.5) is forecast to exceed a 35 µg/m³ 24-hour average within 48 hours in King and Kitsap counties, or above 30 within 72 hours in Pierce and Snohomish. Stage 2 is set by state law trigger values. Check pscleanair.gov before you light a fire.
How far must a fire pit be from a house in Seattle?
Seattle Fire Department rules require a recreational fire to be at least 25 feet from structures or combustibles, no more than 3 feet across and 2 feet high. Patio or portable fireplaces must be at least 15 feet away and not on a deck or balcony, though single-family homes and duplexes are exempt from the 15 foot rule.
What are Portland's fire pit rules?
Portland Fire and Rescue limits recreational fires to 3 feet across and 2 feet high, at least 25 feet from structures or combustibles, using only clean, dry, untreated firewood, and never during burn bans. Portable outdoor fireplaces need 15 feet and must follow the maker's instructions, but that 15 foot rule does not apply at one and two family homes.
What do I need on hand when using a fire pit in Seattle?
Seattle requires extinguishing equipment: a shovel and two buckets of water, a charged garden hose, or a 4-A rated extinguisher. An adult must attend the fire the whole time, and you cannot burn trash or yard waste. Fires larger than 3 by 2 feet need permits from Puget Sound Clean Air and the Seattle Fire Department.
What about Washington counties outside Puget Sound?
The Washington Department of Ecology covers counties outside local clean air agencies, and other regional agencies run their own programs. We have not verified Ecology's current statewide burn ban text, so check ecology.wa.gov or your regional clean air agency, plus your local fire department, before burning.
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