North Port residents can light fire pits and burn yard waste again after Fire Chief Scott Titus officially rescinded the city's outdoor burning ban Monday.
Titus determined that an extraordinary fire hazard no longer exists as the region enters its typical summer weather pattern with increased rainfall, according to a city news release. The decision was made under city code sections 26-15 and 26-23, which give the fire chief authority to declare or lift fire hazards.
But the chief isn't telling anyone to relax.
"Conditions remain dry, and it only takes a small spark to create a large incident," Titus said in the announcement. "Please take every precaution to prevent fires from getting out of control."
The lift comes eight days after the Sarasota County Fire Department ended its separate countywide burn ban July 12, after the Keetch-Byram Drought Index dropped below 500 for seven consecutive days. North Port, though located in Sarasota County, operates its own city fire department.
Water restrictions remain in force despite the lifted burn ban
Even with the burn ban gone, North Port remains under a Modified Phase III "extreme" water shortage order from the Southwest Florida Water Management District. The SWFWMD Governing Board voted in late June to extend the restrictions through Oct. 1.
The rules apply to every North Port household, including those on private wells:
- Lawn and landscape watering: One day per week, based on the last digit of the street address.
- Watering hours: 12:01 a.m. to 4 a.m. or 8 p.m. to 11:59 p.m. on the assigned day. Properties under 1 acre may use only one window.
- Low-volume watering (micro-irrigation, soaker hoses, hand watering): Allowed any day, but only before 8 a.m. or after 6 p.m.
- Car washing at home: Assigned watering day only, with a hose equipped with a shutoff nozzle.
- Exempt activities: Car washes, golf courses and roadway median watering that use reclaimed water.
The district reported a regional rainfall deficit of 11.4 inches compared with normal as of May. Outdoor water use accounts for more than half of household water consumption across the SWFWMD region, according to the district.
The last time SWFWMD declared a Phase III water shortage before 2026 was May 2017.
How to reach North Port Fire Rescue with questions
The city's news release directs residents to review outdoor burning guidelines at NorthPortFL.gov/FireRescue. Those with questions can call North Port Fire Rescue at 941-240-8150.
North Port is also hosting a free Fire Safety 101 webinar at noon July 31, covering safe grilling practices, burn ban basics and wildfire preparedness. Registration is required at the department's website.
