Florida burn bans › Pinellas County
Is there a burn ban in Pinellas County, Florida today?
Yes. As of November 5, 2026, Pinellas County, Florida is under a burn ban according to Florida Forest Service data. Outdoor burning is prohibited until the board of county commissioners lifts the order.
What the burn ban means in Pinellas County
A burn ban prohibits or restricts outdoor burning — burning household trash, brush piles, leaves, fields, and open campfires — while dry conditions make wildfires likely. While the ban is active, do not burn debris, trash, brush, or light open fires outdoors anywhere in the county.
In Florida, a burn ban is issued by the board of county commissioners, usually by declaring a state of local emergency under the county's emergency powers, under §252.38(3)(a), Florida Statutes.
Separately from county bans, the Commissioner of Agriculture may declare a drought emergency burning ban covering part or all of the state under §590.081, which makes wildland fires, campfires, bonfires and trash burning unlawful without a written Florida Forest Service permit.
Common exceptions
- Attended cooking on a gas or charcoal grill, or in a contained cooking device, is exempt under most county orders.
- Burns authorized by the Florida Forest Service — agricultural, silvicultural, prescribed and land-clearing burns — are generally exempt, because FFS authorisation is a separate statewide system.
- Consumer fireworks and sparklers are often added to the prohibition rather than exempted from it. Several counties ban fireworks alongside burning.
Penalties for violating a burn ban
Where a ban is issued as a local emergency order, violating it is a second-degree misdemeanor under §252.50, punishable by up to 60 days in jail and a fine of up to $500. Burning without a Florida Forest Service authorization is separately a second-degree misdemeanor under §590.125(2)(d), and you can be billed for the cost of putting the fire out.
How long does a burn ban last?
A state of local emergency runs for 7 days and may be extended in further 7-day increments for as long as conditions require, under §252.38(3)(a). In practice most counties review their burn ban weekly.
Neighbouring county status
| County | Status today |
|---|---|
| Hillsborough County | BURN BAN |
| Pasco County | No ban |
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Frequently asked questions
- Is there a burn ban in Pinellas County right now?
- Yes. As of November 5, 2026, Pinellas County has an active burn ban per Florida Forest Service data. Outdoor burning is prohibited.
- What is the penalty for violating a burn ban in Florida?
- Where a ban is issued as a local emergency order, violating it is a second-degree misdemeanor under §252.50, punishable by up to 60 days in jail and a fine of up to $500. Burning without a Florida Forest Service authorization is separately a second-degree misdemeanor under §590.125(2)(d), and you can be billed for the cost of putting the fire out.
- Who issues and lifts burn bans in Pinellas County?
- Burn bans in Pinellas County are issued by the board of county commissioners, usually by declaring a state of local emergency under the county's emergency powers, under §252.38(3)(a), Florida Statutes. A state of local emergency runs for 7 days and may be extended in further 7-day increments for as long as conditions require, under §252.38(3)(a). In practice most counties review their burn ban weekly.
- When will the Pinellas County burn ban be lifted?
- No end date is published in the state feed. A state of local emergency runs for 7 days and may be extended in further 7-day increments for as long as conditions require, under §252.38(3)(a). In practice most counties review their burn ban weekly. Check this page daily or sign up for our free email alert to know the moment it changes.
Data source: Florida Forest Service, checked daily. Generated with live data on November 5, 2026 at 3:18 PM EST.