Outdoor Burning and Fire Restrictions

When it comes to outdoor fires, cooking and burning of any kind, there are certain guidelines that residents and visitors to our jurisdiction must adhere to for the safety of our community. North Metro Fire’s experienced personnel evaluate the fire weather conditions daily and establish fire restrictions or bans, as needed, based on fire risk in the area. 

Additionally, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) and county health departments may implement fire restrictions or bans based on environmental and health impacts. North Metro Fire works closely with our health department partners to establish fire restrictions and bans and oversee burn permits in our community.  

If you have any specific questions related to burning, please contact North Metro’s Fire Prevention Division at 720-887-8217.  

Current Fire/Burning Restrictions

  1. There are no alerts at this time.

Permit-Required Open Burningbonfire

If you plan to burn anything outdoors, and the fire will exceed a size of 3 feet wide and 2 feet high, you must obtain a burn permit from North Metro Fire and, in some cases, your county’s health department. Examples of outdoor burning where the fire code requires a permit include agricultural burning, homeowner or landowner burning of trimmed tree branches and ceremonial bonfires. To learn more and to obtain a burn permit, visit our permit-required open burning page.

Recreational Fires and Outdoor Cooking

If you are a resident who simply wants to enjoy recreational fires and outdoor cooking, you do not need a permit for smaller fires where flames do not exceed 3 feet in width and 2 feet in height. However, fire code, fire restrictions or fire bans do impact the use of recreational fires and outdoor cooking, based on various circumstances clarified on our recreational burning page.  

Fire Restrictions and Bans

Fire restrictions and fire bans are determined by North Metro Fire, the county or state health department and/or your local sheriff's office. Click on the following links to learn what is allowed and what is prohibited when we have Level 1 Fire Restrictions or a Level 2 Fire Ban.

What is Never Allowed

  • Picture of fireworks and text that says fireworks are illegalBurning trash - Burning trash is illegal and never allowed under any circumstances. This includes, but is not limited to, construction materials and lumber (2x4’s, etc.), plastic, furniture, appliances, household garbage, tires, chemicals, etc.
  • Shooting fireworks - Using fireworks is illegal year-round in our fire district. Even the use of legal items such as sparklers, highway flares and toy caps are subject to fire restrictions/bans. 
  • Launching sky lanterns

National Weather Service - Fire Danger Map