Fire Regulations in Selma, CA (2026)
7 verified fire regulations for Selma, California, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Fire Pit Rules
Selma regulates outdoor fires under Title VII, Chapter 7 (Prohibited Burning). Open burning is generally prohibited within city limits under Section 7-7-1. Portable fire pits must comply with California Fire Code clearance requirements. The SJVAPCD Rule 4901 restricts wood-burning during curtailment days November through February.
Selma Fire Pit and Outdoor Fire Rules
Some RestrictionsFireworks
Selma permits only state-classified Safe and Sane fireworks during the Fourth of July season. Dangerous fireworks (those that explode or launch into the air) are banned year-round under Section 7-3-11. Ordinance 2021-3 established administrative fines of $1,000 for a first offense, $1,500 second, and $2,000 third.
Selma Fireworks Regulations
Heavy RestrictionsBrush Clearance
Selma requires property owners to maintain clearance of dry grass, weeds, and combustible materials. California PRC 4291 mandates 100 feet of defensible space around structures. Fresno County Fire enforces a 30-foot clearance around structures and along property lines with weed abatement standards.
Selma Brush and Weed Clearance
Some RestrictionsOutdoor Burning
Selma prohibits outdoor burning within city limits under Title VII, Chapter 7 of the Selma Municipal Code, specifically SMC 7-7-1 (Burning Prohibited). This prohibition applies to the burning of refuse, yard waste, leaves, construction debris, agricultural waste, and any other combustible materials on both residential and commercial properties throughout the city. The ban is reinforced by the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District (SJVAPCD) Rule 4103, which independently prohibits residential open burning across Fresno County and the entire San Joaquin Valley air basin due to the region's severe air quality challenges with particulate matter. Selma's location in the Central Valley makes air quality a persistent public health concern, and outdoor burning is one of the activities most strictly regulated. The Selma Fire Department enforces the local burning prohibition, while the SJVAPCD independently enforces air quality violations. Residents must use alternative disposal methods such as curbside green waste collection, composting, or hauling materials to approved disposal facilities. Barbecues and cooking appliances that use charcoal, propane, or natural gas remain exempt from these prohibitions when used exclusively for food preparation.
Selma Outdoor Burning Regulations
Heavy RestrictionsWildfire Zones
Selma is located on the flat agricultural floor of the Central Valley in Fresno County and is not designated as a Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone (VHFHSZ) by CAL FIRE. The city sits at approximately 300 feet elevation on level terrain surrounded by irrigated farmland, placing it well outside the foothill and mountain areas of eastern Fresno County where wildfire risk is concentrated. Because Selma falls within a Local Responsibility Area (LRA) rather than a State Responsibility Area (SRA), the more stringent wildfire building standards and defensible space requirements that apply to wildland-urban interface communities do not apply here. The Selma Fire Department provides structural fire protection for the city's approximately 24,000 residents across six square miles and follows the California Fire Code as adopted locally, but wildfire-specific regulations such as PRC 4291 defensible space mandates, AB 3074 extended defensible space zones, and Chapter 7A WUI building standards are not applicable within Selma city limits. Standard urban fire safety codes, property maintenance requirements, and building construction standards provide the fire protection framework for Selma properties.
Selma Wildfire Hazard Zone Classification
Few RestrictionsSmoke Detectors
Selma requires smoke detectors and carbon monoxide alarms in all residential dwellings under the California Building Code and Health and Safety Code Section 13113.7, which mandates smoke alarms approved and listed by the State Fire Marshal in every dwelling unit intended for human occupancy. The Selma Fire Department and Building Division jointly enforce these requirements for both new construction and existing homes. Smoke alarms must be installed in each bedroom, outside each sleeping area in the immediate vicinity of the bedrooms, and on every level of the dwelling including basements and habitable attics. For new construction and major remodels, alarms must be hardwired to the building electrical system with battery backup and interconnected so that activation of any single alarm causes all alarms throughout the dwelling to sound simultaneously. Carbon monoxide detectors are separately required under HSC 17926 in all dwelling units containing fossil fuel-burning heaters, appliances, or fireplaces, or that have an attached garage. The City of Selma provides a Smoke Detector Affidavit form through its website for use during property transfers and rental compliance verification, confirming that all required smoke and carbon monoxide alarms are properly installed and operational.
Selma Smoke Detector and Carbon Monoxide Alarm Requirements
Heavy RestrictionsCalifornia Health and Safety Code Section 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...
Backyard Fires
Backyard recreational fires in Selma are substantially restricted by the combination of SMC 7-7-1, which prohibits open burning within city limits, and the SJVAPCD air quality regulations that independently govern particulate emissions throughout the San Joaquin Valley. Open burning of any kind, including bonfires, burn barrels, and uncontained campfire-style fires, is prohibited on residential properties in Selma. However, contained fire appliances using natural gas or propane that do not produce visible smoke are generally permitted because they are classified as appliances rather than open fires under the California Fire Code. These gas-fueled fire pits, outdoor fireplaces, and similar decorative heating devices must comply with CFC Section 308.1.4 setback requirements, maintaining a minimum 10-foot clearance from structures and combustible materials. Wood-burning fire pits, chimineas, and outdoor wood-burning fireplaces that generate smoke and particulate matter are effectively prohibited by the dual regulatory framework of the Selma burning ban and the SJVAPCD Check Before You Burn program. The Selma Fire Department enforces backyard fire regulations through its prevention division under Fire Marshal Anthony Rivas.
Selma Backyard Fire Rules
Heavy RestrictionsLooking for Fresno County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Selma city rules.
Fire Regulations in Fresno County →