Outdoor Fires; Applying for an Exemption

As a general rule, there must be no risk of fire to the surrounding area.

Outdoor fire pits using suitable fuel (especially natural wood) generally do not require a permit if the following distances are maintained:

• At least 25 m from highly flammable materials and
• at least 5 m from buildings and other combustible materials; an exemption may be requested from the municipality.
• At least 100 m from a forest; for shorter distances, a permit is required, which can be applied for at the local forestry office (Office for Food, Agriculture, and Forestry).

Furthermore, please note:

• The fire must be extinguished in the event of strong winds.
• The fire must be supervised at all times by a sufficient number of qualified individuals.
• The fire and embers must be completely extinguished, and any fire debris must be properly removed before you leave the site.
• The consent of the property owner is always required to light and maintain open fires in the great outdoors outside of areas officially designated for this purpose.
• When lighting a fire where permitted, the general obligation to protect nature must be observed.
• Further regulations may apply in protected areas and may be contained in protected area ordinances. More detailed information on this can be obtained from the local nature conservation authorities.
• If the fire is lit as part of a public event—which may be the case depending on the specific circumstances of the individual situation—the public event itself generally requires notification to the municipality at least one week in advance and, in some cases, a permit, provided that no overriding special regulations apply (see the service “Public Entertainment; Notification and Application for a Permit” under “Related Topics”).
• For larger fires, it may be advisable to notify the municipality and the Integrated Control Center in advance to avoid false alarms.

Municipalities may issue further directives and require special precautions on a case-by-case basis. Information on this can be obtained from the local municipality.