Am I allowed to light a bonfire in Denmark?
Yes — you may light a bonfire on your own land or the beach if you keep the distances and there is no active fire ban. The distances depend on the bonfire's size. A large bonfire over 120 cm in diameter, such as a Midsummer bonfire, must be at least 30 m from buildings with a hard roof and 200 m from coniferous forest, heath and easily ignitable vegetation. A small bonfire of at most 80 cm — including cosy fires and disposable grills — needs at least 15 m to easily ignitable roofs and plants. What people forget is the wind: the distances double downwind, and in strong wind you must not burn at all. In dry periods the municipality can impose a fire ban — check the fire-danger site first.
📋 The rules
- Large bonfire (over 120 cm): 30 m from buildings, 200 m from coniferous forest
- Small bonfire (max 80 cm): 15 m to easily ignitable things
- The distances double downwind
- No burning in strong wind
- The municipality can impose a fire ban
🔓 Exceptions
- Midsummer bonfires are allowed under the large-bonfire distances, but a ban takes priority
- Small cosy fires and disposable grills follow the small-bonfire rules
- Municipalities can have local rules, for example beach-fire bans on certain beaches
⚠️ Penalties & fines
Breaching a fire ban or causing a fire is punishable with a fine — but the fine is rarely the expensive part. You can be held liable for the damage the fire does, and a fire that runs from the bonfire into coniferous forest, heath or up a neighbour's roof costs on a completely different scale. The liability follows the person who lit it. The trap is the wind: the distances double downwind, so a bonfire that just clears 30 m and 200 m in still air is illegally placed the moment the wind gets up.
📎 Official sources
- Danish Emergency Services · Bonfire rules →
- Emergency Management Agency · Midsummer →
- Brandfare.dk · Fire ban →
❓ Frequently asked
Can I light a bonfire in Denmark?
Yes, if you keep the distance requirements and there is no active fire ban. The distance depends on the bonfire's size, and the municipality can impose a ban in dry periods that overrides everything else.
How far must a large bonfire be from buildings?
A large bonfire over 120 cm in diameter must be at least 30 m from buildings with a hard roof and 200 m from coniferous forest, heath and easily ignitable vegetation. The distances also double downwind.
What applies to a small bonfire?
A small bonfire of at most 80 cm needs at least 15 m to easily ignitable roofs and plants. Cosy fires and disposable grills follow the same rules as other small bonfires, including down on the beach.
Can I light a bonfire in the wind?
No, not in strong wind. The distances double downwind, so a bonfire that just clears the requirements in still air is illegally placed the moment the wind blows in from the wrong side, and in strong wind you may not burn at all.
What is a fire ban?
A ban the municipality can impose in dry periods, and it takes priority over everything else — Midsummer bonfires included. Check the fire-danger site first, as a ban applies however good your distances are.
🔎 Common searches
What people search to land here:
- “can I light a bonfire denmark”
- “bonfire distance 30 m 200 m”
- “small bonfire 15 m”
- “fire ban municipality”
- “midsummer bonfire rules”
- “bonfire on the beach”