Routt County Fire Restrictions & Burn Bans
➜ View the current Routt County status on the live map
BurnBound monitors official Routt 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 Routt 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 Routt 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.
Routt 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 (970) 879-1090.
Do Routt County restrictions apply on federal land?
Routt County's fire restrictions do not extend to federal lands within the county. On federal land, the managing agency (USFS, BLM, or NPS) sets the rules.
Official Routt County sources
Fire protection districts in Routt 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 Routt County
These agencies set their own fire restrictions on the lands they manage inside the county — independent of any county order:
- Bureau of Land Management: Colorado River Valley Field Office, Little Snake Field Office
- Colorado State Parks: Stagecoach State Park, Steamboat Lake State Park
- U.S. Forest Service: Eagle Ranger District, Hahns Peak-Bears Ears Ranger District, Parks Ranger District, Yampa Ranger District
Routt County fire-restriction rules by stage
Stage 1 Fire Restrictions (Stage 1)
Prohibited:
- campfires and charcoal grills except in designated campgrounds/picnic areas
- smoking except in enclosed vehicle/building or 3-foot cleared area
- chainsaws without USDA/SAE spark arrester and extinguisher
- welding without 10-foot cleared area
- explosives requiring fuses or blasting caps
Allowed:
- permanent fire pits or fire grates in developed picnic grounds and campgrounds
- recreational fires at private residences with valid permit from the fire protection district chief
- commercially designed and enclosed cooking devices at private residences (charcoal, gas/propane, electric, or wood pellet) — no permit required
- UL approved liquid-fueled or gas-fueled devices with an on/off switch
- hot air balloon activities and compliant recreational vehicles
- permitted irrigation-ditch burning surrounded by irrigated farmland
- permitted religious-ceremony fires
Propane fire pits: permitted · Developed-campground fires: permitted
Source: Standing 'Stages of Fire Restrictions' page (Ordinance 2013-2 framework, recorded 4/9/2013)
Stage 2 Fire Restrictions (Stage 2)
Prohibited:
- all open fires and campfires
- smoking except in enclosed vehicles and buildings
- chainsaws and engines without spark arresting devices
- all explosives
- welding and cutting torch devices outdoors
Allowed:
- petroleum-fueled stoves, lanterns, and heating devices that are underwriter approved
- commercially designed and enclosed cooking devices at private residences (charcoal, gas/propane, electric, or wood pellet)
- acts with a valid written permit from the FPD chief or Emergency Operations Manager
Propane fire pits: permitted · Developed-campground fires: not permitted
No Active Fire 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 Routt County whenever one is published. See the full guide to Colorado fire restrictions for details, penalties, and propane specifics.