Arapahoe County Fire Restrictions & Burn Bans
➜ View the current Arapahoe County status on the live map
BurnBound monitors official Arapahoe County sources continuously and shows the current restriction status — alongside overlapping federal, state, and fire-district restrictions — on one color-coded map. Fire restrictions change quickly during Colorado's fire season, so always check the live map or the county's official channels before lighting any fire.
Who issues fire restrictions in Arapahoe County?
In Colorado, county-level fire restrictions for unincorporated areas are typically enacted by the Board of County Commissioners or the County Sheriff under C.R.S. §30-15-401 and §30-10-512/513. Within Arapahoe County, separate authorities can impose their own rules at the same time: fire protection districts (under C.R.S. Title 32), the U.S. Forest Service and BLM on federal land, Colorado Parks & Wildlife in state parks, and municipalities inside their town limits. That's why one spot on the map can carry several overlapping restrictions — BurnBound shows each one separately.
Arapahoe County's recorded statutory authority is C.R.S. § 30-10-512. To confirm current restrictions by phone, the county office on record is 303-795-4711.
Do Arapahoe County restrictions apply on federal land?
Arapahoe County's order does not address federal land, so a county restriction may apply on federal ground within the county — verify with the sheriff or the managing agency. Federal agencies (USFS, BLM, NPS) also set their own rules on their land.
Official Arapahoe County sources
Fire protection districts in Arapahoe County
Every Colorado fire protection district can set its own fire restrictions independently of the county (C.R.S. Title 32) — most align with the county, but always check the district covering your exact location on the live map.
Federal & state lands overlapping Arapahoe County
These agencies set their own fire restrictions on the lands they manage inside the county — independent of any county order:
- Colorado State Parks: Cherry Creek State Park
Arapahoe County fire-restriction rules by stage
Stage 1
Prohibited:
- open burning of any kind without a permit from the appropriate fire district
- fireworks
Allowed:
- propane/LP/natural gas fire pits (no sparks/embers)
- propane/LP/natural gas barbecue grills for cooking (no sparks/embers)
- charcoal grills and pits for cooking or warming food (no sparks/embers)
- residential charcoal grills, tiki torches, chimineas, portable fireplaces or patio fire pits where allowed by code (adult supervision)
- small recreational fires at developed picnic or campground sites in fixed permanent metal/steel fire pits, flame length under 4 feet (rock fire rings do not qualify)
Propane fire pits: permitted · Developed-campground fires: permitted
Source: ACSO burn ban page — standing Stage 1 rules (Ordinances 2026-02/2026-03, C.R.S. 30-10-512/513)
Stage 2
Prohibited:
- campfires
- fires in permanent fire pits or grates in developed camp/picnic areas
- charcoal-fueled fires
- warming fires
- outdoor wood-burning stoves
- prescribed burning
- fireworks
- any other outdoor fires
Allowed:
- propane/LP/natural gas barbecue grills for cooking (no sparks/embers)
- propane fire pits (no sparks/embers)
- Charcoal-fueled grills and pits used for cooking or warming food which do not produce or emit sparks or embers
Propane fire pits: permitted · Developed-campground fires: not permitted
Source: ACSO burn ban page — standing Stage 2 rules verified essentially verbatim
No Ban (Normal conditions (no restrictions declared))
Propane fire pits: permitted · Developed-campground fires: permitted
Rules content verified against primary sources on 2026-07-04.
Rules apply as written in each order — the county's current order always controls. This page never shows live status; check the live map for what is in effect right now.
Exact rules vary by jurisdiction and by order — the map's popup links the official order for Arapahoe County whenever one is published. See the full guide to Colorado fire restrictions for details, penalties, and propane specifics.