Fire Regulations in Irvine, CA (2026)
6 verified fire regulations for Irvine, California, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Fire Pits & Backyard Fires
Wood-burning fire pits, rings, and outdoor fireplaces at Irvine homes must sit in a contained firebox with a spark arrester, and wood fires can't burn within 25 feet of a combustible structure unless inside an approved permanent fireplace. A Fire Code amendment sets narrower setbacks for portable, spark-arrested devices.
Irvine Backyard Recreational Fire Rules
Some RestrictionsIrvine, CA, Municipal Code § 5-9-409(B)(d)(iii) (adding Cal. Fire Code § 307.6.2)
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 construction and building openings as required therein. Fires in a fireplace shall be contained within a firebox with an attached chimney. The ope...
Fireworks
Irvine bans keeping, storing or selling any fireworks that violate the City Code, and the Fire Chief or Public Safety Director can seize violating stock at the owner's expense. Public displays are allowed only under an Orange County Fire Authority-reviewed permit that requires electrical firing and a shell-based fallout diagram.
Irvine Fireworks Possession and Display Rules
Significant RestrictionsIrvine, CA, Municipal Code § 4-4-113; California Fire Code §§ 5608.2–5608.3 (as amended by Ord. No. 25-26, § 5(Exh. D), 11-12-25)
Sec. 4-4-113. - Seizure of fireworks. The Fire Chief or Director of Public Safety shall cause to be seized, taken, or removed at the expense of the owner all stocks of fireworks offered or exposed for sale, and all fireworks stored or held in violation of the City Code. For the purpose of this section, "fireworks" shall be defined in the same manner as defined in the California Fire Code, as ad...
Brush Clearance
Irvine's fire code official can order flammable vegetation cleared for 10 feet on each side of any street or private road used for vehicular traffic. The rule exempts single ornamental trees, shrubs, and cultivated ground covers like ivy or succulents that don't readily carry fire.
Irvine Roadway Brush Clearance Rule
Some RestrictionsIrvine, CA, Municipal Code § 5-9-409(B)(vi) (adding Cal. Fire Code § 325)
325 Clearance of brush or vegetation growth from roadways. The fire code official is authorized to cause areas within 10 feet (3048 mm) on each side of portions of highways and private streets which are improved, designed or ordinarily used for vehicular traffic, to be cleared of flammable vegetation and other combustible growth. Measurement shall be from the flow-line or the end of the improve...
Outdoor Burning
Irvine bans outdoor wood and solid-fuel fires whenever sustained winds top 8 mph with humidity under 25%, a red flag warning is declared, or the fire code official posts a burn restriction. All outdoor fires, regardless of fuel, are barred once sustained winds exceed 20 mph, under a Fire Code amendment enforced by the Orange County Fire Authority.
Irvine Outdoor Burning Restrictions
Significant RestrictionsIrvine, CA, Municipal Code § 5-9-409(B)(b) (adding Cal. Fire Code § 305.6)
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. 2.When an official sign was caused to be posted by the fire code official, or a public announcement is made. No outdoor fires using...
Wildfire Zones
Inside Irvine's Wildfire Risk Areas and adjacent brush or grass-covered land, welding, cutting torches, tar pots, and other spark-producing equipment can't be used without first clearing a 30-foot flammable-material buffer, keeping fire tools on hand, and stopping work when winds exceed 8 mph in low humidity.
Irvine Wildfire Risk Area Equipment Rules
Significant RestrictionsIrvine, CA, Municipal Code § 5-9-409(B)(ix) (adding Cal. Fire Code § 327.1)
327.1 Equipment and devices generating heat, sparks or open flames. During any time of the year within Wildfire Risk Areas, within or immediately adjacent to any forest- or brush-covered land or nonirrigated grass-covered land, no person shall use or operate any welding equipment, cutting torches, tar pots, grinding devices, or other tools or equipment that may produce a spark, fire, or flame t...
Propane Storage
Irvine regulates propane and LP-gas storage entirely through the 2025 California Fire Code, which the City adopts in full. Sec. 5-9-409 confirms 'Chapter 61 Liquefied Petroleum Gases is adopted in its entirety' with no local amendment. The Orange County Fire Authority enforces the state's container separation, clearance and quantity standards, and Irvine backs them with its own penalty and misdemeanor provisions.
Irvine Propane and LP-Gas Storage Rules
Some RestrictionsIrvine, CA, Municipal Code Sec. 5-9-409 (Fire Code — Amendments to Building and Fire Code Technical Regulations)
SS.Chapter 61 Liquefied Petroleum Gases is adopted in its entirety.
Looking for Orange County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Irvine city rules.
Fire Regulations in Orange County →