Fire pits, portable outdoor fireplaces/fire pits, chimineas and outdoor kitchens with open flames are allowed within the City of Belleville. The following guidelines shall be adhered to:

A.    For the purposes of this section, an approved Outdoor Fireplace includes those commercially manufactured devices specifically designed, intended and advertised for the purpose containing and controlling outdoor fires, such as chimneys, outdoor fireplaces, portable fireplaces, chimineas and those areas specifically designed and built within the confines of a deck that are constructed of stone, concrete blocks or other noncombustible materials, such as an outdoor kitchen.

B.    Portable fire pits may be used in accordance with the manufacturer’s recommendations and within the requirements of this chapter and must be used upon a non-combustible surface.

C.    All recreational fires shall not have a diameter larger than 3 feet and the fire may not extend more than 2 feet above the pit.

D.    Material for recreational fires shall not include rubbish, garbage, recyclable items, trash, any material made of or coated with rubber, plastic, leather or petroleum based materials and shall not contain any flammable or combustible liquids. No burning of vegetation or leaves is allowed. Only clean wood shall be burned.

E.    All recreational fires shall be attended at all times by at least one responsible person of age 18 or older until the fire is out or extinguished.

F.    No recreational fire shall be started or allowed to continue burning when the wind direction or wind speed will cause smoke, embers, or other burning materials to be carried by the wind toward any building or other combustible materials. Smoke from any recreational fire shall not create a nuisance for neighboring property owners.

G.    All complaints (smoke, odor emissions, falling ash, etc.) regarding recreational fires will be investigated by the Belleville Police Department. The Belleville Police Department is authorized to order the extinguishment of any such burning if it creates or adds to a hazardous situation.

Recreational fires are allowed any time except when high fire hazard conditions exist, as determined by the governing body of the City of Belleville.

(Code 2016)

Any such person who shall violate any of the provisions of this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction thereof shall be fined in any sum not less than fifty dollars or more than five hundred dollars, plus court costs.

(Code 2016)