Fire Regulations in Costa Mesa, CA (2026)
6 verified fire regulations for Costa Mesa, California, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Fire Pits & Backyard Fires
Wood-burning fire pits, fire rings and outdoor fireplaces at Costa Mesa homes must sit at least 25 feet from combustible structures unless built as an approved permanent fireplace, dropping to 3 feet for spark-arrested portable pits at single-family (R-3) homes and 15 feet at other residential occupancies, under Fire Code § 307.6.2.
Costa Mesa Fire Pit Setback Rules
Some RestrictionsCosta Mesa, CA, Municipal Code § 7-15 (Fire Code §§ 307.6, 307.6.2)
307.6 Outdoor Fireplaces, Fire Pits, Fire Rings, or similar exterior devices used at Group R occupancies shall comply with this section. ... 307.6.2 Devices using wood or fuels other than natural gas or liquefied-petroleum gas. Permanent outdoor fireplaces burning wood or other solid fuel shall be constructed in accordance with the California Building Code with clearance from combustible constr...
Fireworks
Costa Mesa allows 'safe and sane' fireworks sales only by nonprofit youth organizations and schools holding a Section 9-180 permit from the director of finance, and only between June 30 and 9:00 p.m. on July 4. Discharge is limited to July 2 through July 4, 4:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m., and dangerous fireworks are banned outright.
Costa Mesa Fireworks Sales & Discharge Rules
Significant RestrictionsCosta Mesa, CA, Municipal Code § 9-190
No person shall possess, discharge, sell or offer for sale, any fireworks within the city which are classified as dangerous fireworks as those terms are defined by the California Health and Safety Code. No person shall sell or offer for sale fireworks within the city without first having obtained a Retail Fireworks License from the Office of the State Fire Marshal as required under the laws of ...
Brush Clearance
Costa Mesa requires property owners to remove weeds, grass, and combustible vegetation capable of endangering property. The Costa Mesa Fire Department enforces vegetation management standards as part of the adopted fire code.
Costa Mesa Brush & Vegetation Clearance
Some RestrictionsCal. Pub. Resources Code § 4291
4291. (a) A person who owns, leases, controls, operates, or maintains a building or structure in the state responsibility area shall at all times do all of the following: (1) (A) Maintain defensible space of 100 feet from each side and from the front and rear of the structure, but not beyond the property line, except as provided in subparagraph (B). The amount of fuel modification necessary sha...
Outdoor Burning
Costa Mesa bans outdoor wood fires whenever sustained winds top 8 mph with humidity under 25%, during any posted red-flag warning, or once winds exceed 20 mph regardless of fuel type, under Fire Code § 305.6. Rubbish and trash can never be burned outdoors; it must go into an approved incinerator under § 305.7.
Costa Mesa Outdoor Burning Restrictions
Significant RestrictionsCosta Mesa, CA, Municipal Code § 7-15 (Fire Code §§ 305.6, 305.7)
Section 305.6 Hazardous Conditions is hereby added as follows: 305.6 Hazardous conditions. Outdoor fires burning wood or other solid fuel are not allowed when any of the following conditions applies: 1. When predicted sustained winds exceed 8 MPH and relative humidity is less than 25%, or a red flag condition has been declared when an official sign was caused to be posted by the fire code offic...
Wildfire Zones
Costa Mesa adopts the 2025 California Wildland-Urban Interface Code in full, with no local amendments, under Municipal Code § 7-16. The city separately adopted Ordinance No. 2025-03 in June 2025 to map its Local Responsibility Area Fire Hazard Severity Zones, and its own Fire Code amendments require Class B roofing everywhere else.
Costa Mesa Wildfire Zone Building Code
Some RestrictionsCosta Mesa, CA, Municipal Code §§ 7-14, 7-16
§ 7-14. Adoption of the California Fire Code and the Wildland-Urban Interface Code. The 2025 California Fire Code and the 2025 California Wildland-Urban Interface Code, as published by the International Code Council and as adopted and amended by the California Building Standards Commission and the office of the State Fire Marshal, are adopted by reference, except as further amended in this titl...
Smoke Detectors
Costa Mesa enforces California's smoke alarm and carbon monoxide detector requirements under CMMC building codes. Detectors are required in all sleeping areas, outside bedrooms, and on every level of the home, with CO detectors mandatory in homes with fuel-burning appliances.
Costa Mesa Smoke & CO Detector Requirements
Some RestrictionsCalifornia Health & Safety Code §13113.7
13113.7. (a) (1) Except as otherwise provided in this section, smoke alarms, approved and listed by the State Fire Marshal pursuant to Section 13114 at the time of installation, shall be installed, in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions in each dwelling intended for human occupancy. (2) For all dwelling units intended for human occupancy for which a building permit is issued on or a...
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