Elbert County Fire Restrictions & Burn Bans
➜ View the current Elbert County status on the live map
BurnBound monitors official Elbert 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 Elbert 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 Elbert 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.
Elbert County's recorded statutory authority is C.R.S. § 30-15-401(1)(n.5). To confirm current restrictions by phone, the county office on record is (303) 621-2341.
Do Elbert County restrictions apply on federal land?
Elbert County's fire restrictions extend to federal lands within the county. Where the U.S. Forest Service, BLM, or National Park Service also has an order in effect, the federal order governs on that federal ground.
Official Elbert County sources
Fire protection districts in Elbert 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.
Elbert County fire-restriction rules by stage
Stage 1 Fire Restrictions (Stage 1)
Prohibited:
- open burning
- campfires outside permanent grates
- non-permissible fireworks (compliant fireworks sale/use is an explicit Stage 1 exception)
Allowed:
- propane fire pits
- gas grills
- gas stoves
- campfires in permanent fire grates at developed sites
- residential charcoal grills, smokers, tiki torches, chimineas/portable fireplaces/patio fire pits (18+ supervision; lid/screen with openings under 1/4 inch)
- indoor fireplaces and wood stoves with chimney spark arrestor
- sale and use of fireworks in compliance with state and local regulations
- educational rockets
Propane fire pits: permitted · Developed-campground fires: permitted
Gas/propane devices allowed at Stage 1 per Elbert County.
Source: Burn Restriction Information standing page / Ordinance 20-02 (adopted 2020-11-18)
Stage 2 Fire Restrictions (Stage 2)
Prohibited:
- all campfires
- wood fire pits
- campground fires (permit exception: fixed permanent metal/steel fire pits)
Allowed:
- gas fire pits
- propane fire pits
- gas grills
- gas stoves
- residential charcoal grills and smokers (18+ supervision)
- indoor fireplaces and wood stoves with spark arrestor
- WITH PERMIT: small recreational fires in fixed permanent metal/steel fire pits (4-ft flame, 3-ft diameter, 2-ft depth)
- WITH PERMIT: outdoor welding or hot work
- WITH PERMIT: professional fireworks displays
- WITH PERMIT: educational rockets
Propane fire pits: permitted · Developed-campground fires: not permitted
Elbert County Ordinance 20-02: 'Fires within liquid-fueled or gas fueled stoves, grills, fire pits, or other gas/liquid-fueled appliances' allowed without permit at BOTH stages.
Source: Burn Restriction Information standing page / Ordinance 20-02 (adopted 2020-11-18)
No Restrictions (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 Elbert County whenever one is published. See the full guide to Colorado fire restrictions for details, penalties, and propane specifics.