Arizona Fire Feature Rules Overview
Arizona homeowners in the Phoenix metropolitan area face significant wood-burning restrictions from the Maricopa County Air Quality Department (MCAQD). Outside Maricopa County, rules vary considerably — Pima County (Tucson) has its own air quality program, while rural and northern Arizona counties generally have no curtailment programs.
Maricopa County (Phoenix Metro)
MCAQD's wood-burning curtailment program runs October through April and can produce 20–40+ restricted days per season during temperature inversions. On curtailment days, no wood burning is permitted anywhere in Maricopa County — including fire pits, outdoor fireplaces, and pizza ovens. Gas fire features are exempt. Check maricopa.gov/1854 before any wood-burning use during the season.
Pima County (Tucson)
Pima County/City of Tucson has its own air quality jurisdiction. The Pima County Department of Environmental Quality (PDEQ) may issue wood-burning restrictions, though Tucson's program is generally less restrictive than MCAQD due to different air basin characteristics. Check pima.gov/deq for current Tucson-area wood-burning rules.
Arizona Fire Code
Arizona adopts the IFC at the state level, with local jurisdictions permitted to adopt amendments. The Arizona Office of the State Fire Marshal administers state fire safety. Residential fire feature building permits are issued by city and county building departments — each city has its own process and fee schedule.
HOA Density
Arizona, particularly the Phoenix metro area, has one of the highest HOA densities in the U.S. Most master-planned communities in Scottsdale, Chandler, Gilbert, Queen Creek, Peoria, and Glendale have detailed fire feature provisions in their CC&Rs. Always obtain written HOA approval before purchasing or installing any fire feature.