Outdoor Fires: You Can Enjoy a Firepit in Huntington Woods, But Not in Berkley

While you are sitting around a cozy backyard fire, have you ever wondered if what you are doing is OK?

Well, if you live in Huntington Woods, chances are it is. But if you live in Berkley, not so much.

Every city in Oakland County has some type of ordinance regarding recreational fires – some require burn permits or have limited hours. Others limit the size of the fire, and virtually every ordinance limits the type of material that can be burned.

Berkley’s ordinance is strict. The only types of fires that are allowed are those in a proper container — basically a grill — and for cooking purposes only, the Oakland Press reported.

“It’s a safety measure,” Berkley Public Safety Deputy Chief Bob North told the Oakland Press. “Open burning in places that do have houses and garages (in close proximity), in windy conditions that are right for fire brands to float around, that creates a safety hazard.”

In Huntington Woods, there is no such ordinance, said Steve Fairman, chief of the city's Department of Public Safety.

"As long as it's contained and what is being used to burn is firewood," he said. "You can't burn trash."

In both communities, the health and safety of nearby residents is protected. "There are other ordinances if they disturb neighbors with smoke or noise," Fairman said.

“Open burning in areas where houses are in very close proximity to each other can create a problem for people that have respiratory issues,” Berkley's North said.

Recreational fires used to be illegal in Troy, but as residents continued to inquire about their legality, officials decided to revisit the ordinance about 10-15 years ago, Troy Assistant Fire Chief Dave Robert told the Oakland Press. Fires there must be a specific distance from any structure and only certain types of material can be burned.

Across Woodward, Royal Oak also bans what is a summer ritual for many.