🚫 Open Burning Restrictions in Effect for Farmington and Fruit Heights 🚒
As we enter the warmer months, the Farmington Fire Department would like to remind residents of Farmington and Fruit Heights about important regulations surrounding open burning. These rules are in place to protect lives, property, and the beautiful environment we all enjoy.
7-5-010: SEASONAL BAN:
A. Specified: From June 1 until October 15, unauthorized outdoor fires are strictly prohibited within the designated area set forth in subsection B of this section.
B. Area Defined: The prohibition set forth in subsection A of this section applies to the geographic area situated east of a line of demarcation described as follows:
Starting at the southern boundary line of the city at 200 East, heading north to 830 South, then heading east to 350 East, then north to 500 South and extending across Steed Creek to 200 South and 350 East, then heading north to State Street, then heading west to 100 East, then heading north to 600 North, then heading west to Compton Road, then heading north on Compton Road to Bayview Drive, then heading east to 175 East, then extending through the end of the cul-de-sac to Canyon View Drive (950 North), then heading east to Oakridge Drive, then heading north to Shannon Drive (1200 North), then heading north to North Compton Road, then heading west on Richards Way (1265 North), then heading north on Alice Lane (265 West), then following the east property line of the Forest Glen Subdivision north to the southern boundary line of the Compton’s Pointe Subdivision, then following the western boundary line of the Shepard Heights Subdivision until reaching North Compton Road at 1800 North and extending north along North Compton Road to the city boundary.
C. Authorized Outdoor Fires: Authorized outdoor fires exempt from the prohibition set forth in subsection A of this section are:
1. Outdoor barbecue units;
2. Recreational fires in residential firepits where any combustible material is located at least thirty feet (30′) from the edge of the firepit and where the fire is a minimum of ten feet (10’) from all property
3. Burns conducted by farm and horticultural operations; provided, that such burns are contained and monitored at all times and are commenced only after receiving proper authorization from the Farmington City fire department.
a. For purposes of this section, a farm or horticultural operation is defined as:
(1) Fruit orchards of twenty-five (25) or more fruit trees on a continuous two (2) acre parcel of property; or
(2) Agricultural activities of two (2) or more cultivated acres on single or contiguous parcels of property.
D. All authorized outdoor fires shall be located and managed to prevent fire spread and exposure to nearby structures, vegetation, and materials.
CHAPTER 7-13
OPEN BURNING AND OUTDOOR FIRES
7-13-010: PURPOSE:
The purpose of this chapter is to protect life, property, air quality, neighboring properties, emergency access, and public welfare by regulating open burning, recreational fires, portable outdoor fireplaces, cooking fires, and similar outdoor burning activities within Farmington City. This chapter is intended to be interpreted in harmony with the fire code of Farmington City and other applicable city ordinances. In the event of conflict, the more restrictive provision shall govern.
7-13-020: APPLICABILITY:
This chapter applies to all persons, properties, and outdoor burning activities within Farmington City unless otherwise exempted by law.
7-13-030: DEFINITIONS:
For purposes of this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings stated below:
ADOPTED FIRE CODE: The fire code of Farmington City, including the International Fire Code as adopted and amended by the State of Utah and as adopted by Farmington City, together with any applicable local amendments.
AHJ OR AUTHORITY HAVING JURISDICTION: The Farmington Fire Department, Fire Chief, Fire Marshal, or designee responsible for administration and enforcement of fire prevention requirements within Farmington City. This definition is consistent with the Fire Chief’s authority for fire prevention in the City.
ATTENDED: Continuously monitored by a competent person of legal age who is physically present at the fire location and has immediate access to extinguishing capability sufficient to control or extinguish the fire.
COOKING FIRE: A fire used solely for the preparation of food for human consumption, including fires in charcoal grills, pellet grills, smokers, barbecues, and similar appliances.
OPEN BURNING: The ignition, combustion, or maintenance of fire outdoors where the products of combustion are emitted directly into the atmosphere without passing through a chimney or stack. Open burning includes, but is not limited to, the burning of weeds, grass, leaves, branches, tree trimmings, rubbish, garbage, paper, construction debris, demolition debris, land-clearing debris, or other combustible material outdoors.
PORTABLE OUTDOOR FIREPLACE: A commercially manufactured portable outdoor solid-fuel-burning device intended for outdoor recreational use, including devices commonly known as chimineas, patio fireplaces, fire bowls, and similar appliances.
RECREATIONAL FIRE: An outdoor fire for pleasure, religious, ceremonial, warmth, or similar customary outdoor leisure use that is not used for waste disposal and is conducted in compliance with this chapter and the adopted fire code.
RESPONSIBLE PERSON: Any person who kindles, authorizes, maintains, permits, or controls a fire on property, and any owner, occupant, tenant, or person in possession of the property where the fire occurs. This is intended to align with Farmington’s existing responsible person enforcement framework.
WASTE BURNING: The outdoor burning of garbage, rubbish, trade waste, construction debris, demolition debris, land-clearing debris, household waste, packaging, discarded furniture, pallets, treated wood, asphalt products, roofing materials, plastics, rubber, or similar refuse.
NUISANCE BURNING: Any fire or burning activity that creates excessive smoke, offensive odors, soot, ash, flying embers, visibility hazards, respiratory irritation, fire spread risk, or other conditions that unreasonably interfere with neighboring properties or threaten life safety or property.
7-13-040: GENERAL PROHIBITION
A person shall not ignite, authorize, allow, or maintain any open burning within Farmington City except as expressly allowed by this chapter, the adopted fire code, and other applicable law.
7-13-050: OPEN BURNING PROHIBITED:
Open burning is prohibited unless specifically authorized in writing by the AHJ and otherwise allowed by state law.
7-13-060: WASTE BURNING PROHIBITED:
A person shall not burn waste in an open fire. Prohibited materials include garbage, rubbish, yard waste for disposal, construction debris, demolition debris, land-clearing debris, trade waste, treated lumber, painted lumber, plastics, rubber, petroleum-based products, and similar refuse. This section is consistent with Farmington’s existing prohibition on burning waste in open fires.
7-13-070: RECREATIONAL FIRES ALLOWED WITH CONDITIONS:
Recreational fires may be allowed when all of the following conditions are met:
- The fire is not used for disposal of waste or vegetation;
- The fire is constantly attended;
- Adequate extinguishing means are immediately available;
- The fire is located and operated so that flames, radiant heat, smoke, and embers do not create a hazard to structures, combustible materials, vehicles, fences, utilities, or adjacent properties;
- The fire is not conducted during red flag conditions, burn restrictions, no-burn orders, high winds, inversion conditions, or other unsafe atmospheric or fuel conditions as determined by the AHJ;
- The fire does not create nuisance burning conditions; and
- The fire otherwise complies with the adopted fire code.
7-13-080: PORTABLE OUTDOOR FIREPLACES:
Portable outdoor fireplaces may be used only when operated in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions, the adopted fire code, and this chapter. A portable outdoor fireplace shall not be used for waste burning.
7-13-090: COOKING FIRES:
Cooking fires are permitted when used solely for food preparation and when operated in a safe manner. Cooking fires remain subject to extinguishment authority if they create a hazardous or nuisance condition.
7-13-100: BURN BANS AND RESTRICTIONS:
The AHJ may prohibit, suspend, or restrict any outdoor burning activity, including recreational fires and portable outdoor fireplaces, whenever weather, drought, fuel conditions, topography, air quality, staffing limitations, or other circumstances create an increased danger to life or property.
7-13-110: IMMEDIATE EXTINGUISHMENT:
The AHJ may order any fire immediately extinguished whenever the fire:
- Violates this chapter or the adopted fire code;
- Creates a public safety hazard;
- Creates nuisance burning conditions;
- Threatens fire spread to structures, vegetation, vehicles, or other property;
- Is not attended; or
- Is maintained during prohibited weather or burn restriction conditions.
Any responsible person shall immediately comply with an order to extinguish a fire.
7-13-120: PERMITS AND APPROVALS:
Where a permit or written approval is required by this chapter, the adopted fire code, state law, or any other applicable regulation, no person shall ignite or maintain the fire without first obtaining that permit or approval.
7-13-130: LIABILITY AND RESPONSIBILITY:
Permission to conduct any allowed fire under this chapter does not relieve any person from responsibility for fire control, smoke impacts, property damage, suppression costs where otherwise recoverable by law, or compliance with any other city, county, state, or federal regulation.
7-13-140: ENFORCEMENT:
Violation of this chapter may be enforced through any lawful criminal or civil remedy available under the Farmington City Code. The City may issue notices of violation, civil citations, seek immediate enforcement where public safety requires, and treat each day a violation continues as a separate offense, consistent with existing City enforcement provisions.
7-13-150: SEVERABILITY:
If any subsection, sentence, clause, or phrase of this chapter is held invalid, the remaining portions shall not be affected.
🧯 Need Help or Have Questions?
Please reach out to the Farmington Fire Department with any questions or for help determining if your property falls within the restricted burn zone.
📞 1 801 837 8378
📧 jweston@farmington.utah.gov
🌐 Fire Prevention – Farmington City
Thank you for helping us keep our community safe!
– Farmington Fire Department