A Beach Fire Can Be Legal South of Fernandina—and Banned Up the Shore

Nassau County’s seasonal restriction ended November 1 on its unincorporated beaches. Fernandina Beach’s own ban did not.

By Amelia Undertow · Published November 9, 2026 · Records checked November 9, 2026

The end of sea turtle nesting season changed one rule, not every rule. Nassau County’s beach ordinance, section 23½-14, bars fires on unincorporated Atlantic beaches from May 1 through October 31. Outside that period, it permits fires subject to restrictions. The county’s current beach-use page places the covered county beaches from Peters Point south toward Amelia Island State Park and says fires must stay out of dunes and outside areas not designated for vehicles.

Inside Fernandina Beach city limits, open beach fires remain prohibited. The city’s fire-prevention FAQ cites section 90-40: no one may start, maintain or have an open fire on a city beach. It describes a limited exception for self-contained, commercially available gas-fueled heating devices; wood or charcoal heaters remain prohibited. That exception does not turn a wood bonfire into an allowed fire.

On county beaches, the details matter

The county prohibits fires in dunes, wood containing nails or other metal fasteners, and leaving a fire before it is fully extinguished and the area covered. The county’s current beach page also confines fires to designated vehicle areas. Its ordinance allows an order to leave for a violation; refusing to leave can lead to a trespass charge. Those are rules in effect, not a proposed change.

The county page says on-beach vehicles are barred between 9 p.m. and 7 a.m. from November 1 through April 30. Beachfront parking lots have separate overnight restrictions. Do not assume the seasonal fire rule authorizes driving or parking after hours. The county beach-use page identifies the access and parking rules, while the city says its beach accesses close from midnight to 5 a.m.

Check conditions before lighting

Amelia Island State Park is governed by its own rules; the county ordinance expressly defers to the park where it controls the beach. A seasonal allowance also does not override a later burn ban or temporary safety closure. The Florida Forest Service says local governments do not have to report every burn-ban change to the state and advises checking with the local fire department. The county’s fire-rescue FAQ directs residents to the Forestry District for burn-ban questions. We did not independently confirm a live burn-ban status for every beach access on November 9.

Before making plans, check whether your chosen stretch is city, county or state-park beach; confirm access hours and current fire restrictions; and use the jurisdiction’s current rules. The county’s seasonal window runs through April 30, with its annual fire prohibition returning May 1.