Beach bonfires are NOT ALLOWED in the towns of Duck, Southern Shores, Kitty Hawk and Kill Devil Hills.

NAGS HEAD

In the Town of Nags Head, beach pit fires are allowed with the use of a permit from Nags Head Fire & Rescue. These required permits may be obtained online from Nags Heads Fire & Rescue nightly between 5:30 p.m. and midnight, provided winds are less than 10 knots (11.5mph). Permits are valid until midnight of the day they are issued.

The cost for a permits is $10 with a $1.15 processing fee. A valid ID is also required. Permits will be emailed to the purchaser, this email receipt will be the permit.

• The pit fire shall not be left unattended and the permit must stay with that person and the fire at all times it is active/hot. If the permit is purchased online, access to view the digital permit/email needs to be readily available at the fire.
• The fire must be attended by a competent person who must be of an age of 14 years or older, which person must attend the fire and see that it is completely extinguished prior to leaving the site thereof.
• The fire shall be no closer than 50 feet from any combustible materials (buildings, life guard stands, sea grass, brush, etc.). It shall be in a hollowed out pit no larger than 3 feet in diameter and not less than 1 foot in depth and must remain within the confines of the pit.
• The fire will be completely extinguished with water and all debris removed from the beach area after the fire is completely out. Clean the area of all trash before leaving.
• The fire will need to be extinguished with water if the wind speed is in excess of 10 knots / 11.5mph or if embers blow toward any combustible materials.
• Only leaves, branches or other plant growth can be burned, nothing else. It is illegal to burn trash, lumber scraps or other non-vegetative material.
  
  

CAPE HATTERAS NATIONAL SEASHORE

Beach fires are allowed throughout the park from November 16 to April 30 with the use of a beach fire permit. From May 1 to November 15, beach fires are allowed only on the ocean beaches at Coquina Beach and the villages of Rodanthe, Waves, Salvo, Avon, Buxton, Frisco and Hatteras with the use of a beach fire permit.

• Fires are allowed from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.
• Fires no greater than 3 feet in diameter may be ignited and maintained seaward of the ocean dune, below the high tide mark, and at least 50 feet from any vegetation.
• The Beach Fire Permit is valid only when a responsible adult (18 years of age or older) is present.
• Fires cannot be left unattended and must be completely extinguished (cold to the touch) before leaving the area.
• Follow the Leave No Trace ethic and clean the area of all trash before leaving the beach.