How San Bernardino Handles Fire Regulations: A Practical Guide

San Bernardino maintains 124 local ordinances across all categories, and 6 of those deal specifically with fire regulations. Here is a breakdown of what the city actually requires, what is prohibited, and where San Bernardino falls on the strict-to-permissive spectrum compared to other cities.

Fire Pits & Backyard Fires

San Bernardino lets residents burn in properly built incinerators, outdoor water heaters, cooking grills and similar devices without a Fire Department permit, but only if the chimney carries a spark arrester screen no coarser than one-quarter inch and every opening is spark-tight. The ground within ten feet of the device must stay clear of anything flammable.

Key details: Permit needed: No, if device meets all three conditions. Spark arrester mesh: 1/4 inch or finer, galvanized or copper. Clearance required: 10-foot radius free of flammables. Enforcing agency: City Fire Department. Governing section: Municipal Code § 8.63.010.

Burning in a fire pit, grill or incinerator that lacks the required quarter-inch spark arrester mesh, spark-tight openings or ten-foot cleared radius is treated as unpermitted open burning under Section 8.63.010, an infraction under Section 8.63.140 punished per Section 1.12.010: up to $100 for a first offense, $200 for a second and $500 for each further offense within a year, escalating to a misdemeanor with up to six months in jail and a $1,000 fine on a fourth offense.

Smoke Detectors

San Bernardino dwellings must have working smoke alarms in every sleeping room and on every level under CA H&S 13113.7, plus CO alarms in homes with fuel appliances or attached garages.

Key details: Smoke alarm law: CA H&S 13113.7 requires alarms in every bedroom and level. CO alarm law: CA H&S 13262 requires CO alarms when fuel appliance or attached garage. Battery rule: Replacement alarms must be 10-year sealed battery units. Sale or remodel: Alarms must be upgraded to current code at transfer or major remodel. Habitability: Missing alarms are a rental defect under Civil Code 1941.1.

Wildfire Zones

San Bernardino designates Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones on a map dated October 29, 2008, kept at the City Clerk's office, and Municipal Code Chapter 15.10 layers extra building standards onto any property inside them or in the city's mapped foothill fire zones A, B or C. Owners there must meet California Building Code Chapter 7A plus city-specific fencing, roofing, window and insulation rules.

Key details: Zone map date: City VHFHSZ map dated Oct 29, 2008. Governing chapter: Municipal Code Chapter 15.10. Applicable code: CBC Chapter 7A plus local additions. Roof requirement: Class A fire-retardant, non-wood only. Retrofit trigger: 60% element replacement or repair cost.

Chapter 15.10 carries no separate penalty section of its own; building in a designated Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone or foothill fire zone without meeting the fencing, roofing, window, vent and insulation standards is caught through the Building Official's plan-check and inspection process under Section 15.10.080, and noncompliant construction is enforced as a Building Code violation through the standard permit process administered by the Community Development and Housing Department.

This is not one of those rules that cities tend to ignore. San Bernardino actively enforces its wildfire zones requirements.

Fireworks

San Bernardino allows only state-classified safe and sane fireworks, sold from licensed stands and only from noon July 1 through midnight July 4, and bans them entirely in mapped no-discharge zones. Dangerous fireworks are prohibited citywide, and storing any fireworks at a residence is illegal year-round.

Key details: Permitted fireworks: Safe and sane only, Cal. H&S § 12529. Sale/use window: Noon July 1 to midnight July 4. Dwelling discharge buffer: 10 feet, § 8.60.130(D). Residential storage: Prohibited year-round, § 8.60.170. Dangerous fireworks: Banned citywide, Ch. 8.61.

Violating Chapter 8.60 is an infraction or misdemeanor under § 8.60.150, punishable per § 1.12.010, and the section adds enhanced penalties on top of the standard fine schedule for repeat or aggravated offenses. Social hosts face strict liability under § 8.60.135 regardless of whether they were present or knew of the violation, and minors' custodians are strictly liable for a minor's violations.

This is one of the stricter rules in San Bernardino's municipal code. If you are unsure whether your situation complies, it is worth checking with the city before proceeding.

Brush Clearance

Foothill Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone properties must maintain 100 feet of defensible space under California PRC 4291. San Bernardino County Fire conducts annual hazard inspections each spring.

Key details: Legal authority: California PRC 4291 defensible space law. Clearance distance: 100 ft around structures in VHFHSZ areas. Zone 0 rule: 0 to 5 ft ember-resistant zone required under AB 3074. Inspection window: Annual hazard inspections April through June. Non-compliance: County abates and liens property for work plus admin fees.

Outdoor Burning

San Bernardino bans lighting any outdoor fire to clear land or burn brush, slash, timber or grass anywhere in the city without a written permit from the City Fire Department first. Only safe domestic fires and compliant enclosed devices are exempt. The Fire Department issues and enforces every land-clearing and brush-burn permit citywide.

Key details: Permit issuer: City Fire Department. First infraction fine: Up to $100. Repeat penalty: Misdemeanor after 4th offense in a year. Domestic fire exemption: Safe domestic fires need no permit. Governing chapter: Municipal Code Chapter 8.63.

Violating Chapter 8.63 is an infraction under Section 8.63.140, punished under the citywide default schedule in Section 1.12.010: up to $100 for a first offense, $200 for a second within a year and $500 for each further offense that year. A fourth infraction within twelve months becomes a misdemeanor, exposing the violator to up to six months in county jail and a $1,000 fine, plus court-ordered reimbursement of the city's investigation and prosecution costs.

This is not one of those rules that cities tend to ignore. San Bernardino actively enforces its outdoor burning requirements.

The Bottom Line

San Bernardino is tougher than many cities when it comes to fire regulations. Out of the 6 rules covered here, 3 are rated strict. If you are a homeowner, renter, or business owner in San Bernardino, take the time to understand these requirements before they become a problem. Most violations come with fines, and some repeat violations can escalate.

Keep in mind that San Bernardino can amend these rules at any council meeting. For the most current version of any rule mentioned here, check the specific ordinance page, where we track updates as they happen.