Beach Fire Regulation | East Hampton Town, NY

Code of the Town of East Hampton

BEACH FIRE – An outdoor fire burning wood materials other than rubbish on a beach where the fuel being burned is not contained in an incinerator, outdoor fireplace, barbecue grill or barbecue pit and has a total fuel area of 30 inches or less in diameter and 24 inches or less in height from natural grade for pleasure, religious, ceremonial, cooking, warmth or similar purposes. All beach fires must comply with the regulations contained in § 141-19. Any beach fire that exceeds the parameters herein or of § 141-19 must comply with § 141-17.

§141-19 Beach Fire Regulations.

1. Beach fires shall not be started or maintained less than 50 feet from any beach grass, vegetation, tent, fence, building or permanent structure, nor within 100 feet of any lifeguard stand. Should there not be enough beach to comply with the fifty-foot setback, the location of a beach fire may be reduced to 25 feet from any beach grass, vegetation, tent, fence, building, or permanent structure, but in no instance may a beach fire be located less than 25 feet from any beach grass, vegetation, tent, fence, building, or permanent structure.
2. Beach fires shall only burn whole, natural wood. No chemically treated wood, or painted wood or wood containing nails, nor wood or plastic pallets shall be used. [Amended 4-7-2016 by L.L. No. 12-2016]
3. Metal, plastic or glass shall not be placed or thrown into the fire.
4. No beach fire shall be left unattended.
5. A Fire Marshal, Marine Patrol Officer, any person in the Division of Code Enforcement or police officer may require that a beach fire be extinguished when deemed to be dangerous due to wind condition, size or whenever atmospheric or other circumstances present an increased fire hazard that threatens public safety. [Amended 4-7-2016 by L.L. No. 12-2016]
6. No beach fire shall be started, kindled or maintained if the prevailing wind velocity exceeds twenty (20) miles per hour. However, the Fire Marshal, Marine Patrol Officer, any person in the Division of Code Enforcement or Police Officer may exercise discretion in requiring that a fire be extinguished when wind velocity exceeds 10 miles per hour.
7. A two-gallon bucket of water must be kept within 10 feet of the beach fire at all times.
8. No beach fire shall be set, started, kindled or maintained prior to 5:00 p.m. and must be fully extinguished prior to 12:00 midnight.
9. A beach fire must be fully and completely extinguished with water. No burning, smoldering, smoking, hot embers or debris shall be left on the beach. No beach fire shall be buried or extinguished with sand.
10. All fire debris must be removed and disposed of properly and the site must be restored to its natural condition at the conclusion of a beach fire.
11. All beach fires must be fully contained within a metal container.