Burn Permits

The Sixth Edition of the Florida Fire Prevention Code (NFPA 1 2015 Edition Section 10.10) and Pinellas County Ordinance 58.206 to 58-15217 gives Pinellas Park Fire Department the authority to permit, regulate, and enforce open outdoor fires. The only allowed open burning shall be as follows:

A. Outdoor burning for commercial, industrial, or agricultural purposes will require a burn permit issued by Fire Prevention. Burning, in this instance, without a permit is prohibited. Pinellas Park Outdoor Burning SOP 400-8. Conditions apply per Pinellas County Ordinance 58-206 to 58-217.
B. All recreational fires are limited to using clean burning charcoal, coal, manufactured fire logs or untreated dry wood as fuels. The burning of treated wood, yard waste, paper, garbage or other waste material is prohibited. Pinellas County Ordinance 58-217. No permit required.
C. A campfire or other fire will be allowed that is used solely for recreational purposes, ceremonial occasions, for outdoor noncommercial preparation of food, or on cold days for warming of outdoor workers, as long as excessive visible emissions are not emitted. Pinellas County Ordinance 58-216. No permit required. NOTE: A burn permit for a public/ceremonial use is required per Pinellas Park Resolution 12-23 ($35.00).
D. Open, recreational, and cooking fires shall be constantly attended by a competent person that has readily available fire-extinguishing equipment and knowledge of how to use that equipment until such fire is extinguished. NFPA 1 2015 Edition Section 10.10.5.
E. Law enforcement and the fire departments having jurisdiction, either by ordinance, special act or agreement, shall have authority to enter upon the premises where such burning is taking place and enforce this section. Further the fire department having jurisdiction shall have the authority to either require the extinguishment of any fire not in compliance with this section or which, in the opinion of the fire personnel present creates a threat to public health or safety or may extinguish the fire themselves. Pinellas County Ordinance 58-217.
F. The AHJ shall have the authority to prohibit any or all open flames, and open, recreational, and cooking fires or other sources of ignition, or establish special regulations on the use of any form of fire or smoking material where circumstances make such conditions hazardous. NFPA 1 2015 Edition Section 10.10.2.

PPFD Form 400-12 03/2015 SOP 400-8

• Approved solid fuel means the solid fuel being of clean dry wood or charcoal. Pinellas County Ordinance 58-217(a).
• Campfire means a small outdoor fire consisting of approved solid fuel and intended for recreation or cooking but not including a fire intended or used for the disposal of waste, construction material, yard debris and rubbish. Pinellas County Ordinance 58-217(a).
• Clean wood means natural wood which has not been painted, varnished or coated with similar material; is not pressure treated with preservatives; and does not contain resins or glues as in plywood or composite wood products. Pinellas County Ordinance 58-217(a).
• Cooking fire means the noncommercial, residential burning of materials not exceeding three feet (0.9 m) in diameter and two feet (0.6 m) in height, other than rubbish in which the fuel burned is contained in an outdoor cooker, a barbecue grill, or a barbecue pit for the purpose of preparing food. Pinellas County Ordinance 58-217(a).
• Fire ring means a cleared area on the ground a minimum of 15 feet from a structure, no less than five feet in diameter outside of the burn area where a fire is made of untreated wood, charcoal or other fuels as defined herein. For purposes of this section, a fire ring includes a chimenea or other elevated fireplace used for containing a recreational fire. Pinellas County Ordinance 58-217(a).
• Grill means a device used for cooking where a combustion source is elevated off of the ground and food cooked over open flame. Pinellas County Ordinance 58-217(a).
• Open burning means the burning of any matter in such a manner that the products of combustion resulting from the burning are emitted directly into the outdoor atmosphere without passing through a stack or chimney. Pinellas County Ordinance 58-217(a).
• Recreational fire means a fire outside in an enclosed structure used for cooking or as a source of heat or light. A recreational fire is one which is located inside a container such as a grill; a portable fire place or a designated fire ring, and the total fuel area does not exceed three feet in diameter and two feet in height. Pinellas County Ordinance 58-217(a).