Fire Regulations in San Bernardino, CA (2026)
6 verified fire regulations for San Bernardino, California, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
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.
San Bernardino Fire Pit and Grill Rules
Some RestrictionsSan Bernardino Municipal Code § 8.63.010
provided, that no permit will be necessary to burn inflammable material in properly constructed incinerators, outdoor water heating units, cooking grills and other similar devices having chimneys covered with spark arresters consisting of galvanized or copper screening of a mesh not larger than one-fourth of an inch, and openings such as doors, to be spark tight and otherwise approved by the Fi...
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.
San Bernardino Fireworks Sale and Use Rules
Significant RestrictionsSan Bernardino Municipal Code § 8.60.070(P), § 8.60.130(D), § 8.60.170
The sale, use, storage or possession of fireworks shall not begin before 12:00 p.m. on July 1 and shall not continue after midnight on July 4. ... It is unlawful for any person, organization, group, association and the like to store, possess, ignite, explode, project or otherwise fire or use any fireworks... within ten feet of any resident dwelling or other structure used as a place of habitati...
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.
San Bernardino Brush Clearance Rules
Some RestrictionsCalifornia Public Resources Code §4291 — Defensible space requirements (brush clearance)
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 [...]. Fuels shall be maintained and spaced in a condition so that a wildfire would be...
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.
San Bernardino Open Burning Permit Rule
Significant RestrictionsSan Bernardino Municipal Code § 8.63.010
It is unlawful for any person, firm or corporation, at any time, to light a fire or fires or use fire for the clearing of land or to burn brush, slash, fallen timber, grass or other inflammable material within the city without first having obtained a written permit from the City Fire Department; that nothing in this section shall prevent the use of proper and lawful fires for safe domestic purp...
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.
San Bernardino Wildfire Hazard Zone Rules
Significant RestrictionsSan Bernardino Municipal Code § 15.10.030
Very high fire hazard severity zones are designated in the city as recommended by the Director of the State Department of Forestry and Fire Protection within the city, as depicted on a map titled “City of San Bernardino Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones,” dated October 29, 2008, on file at the office of the City Clerk, 300 N. D Street, San Bernardino, California.
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.
San Bernardino Smoke and CO Detector Rules
Some RestrictionsCA Health & Safety Code §13113.7 — Smoke alarm requirements in dwellings
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...
Looking for San Bernardino County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement San Bernardino city rules.
Fire Regulations in San Bernardino County →