Fire Pit Rules: Daly City vs San Mateo
How do fire pit rules rules compare between Daly City, CA and San Mateo, CA?
Daly City has fewer restrictions than San Mateo.
Daly City, CA
San Mateo County
Wood-burning fire pits are allowed in Daly City only as code-compliant recreational fires: 3 feet across or less, at least 25 feet from structures, and constantly attended. Using any wood-burning device, including outdoor fire pits, is illegal during a Spare the Air Alert.
View full Daly City rules →San Mateo, CA
San Mateo County
Outdoor wood-burning fire pits are banned on Spare the Air Alert days throughout San Mateo under BAAQMD Regulation 6, Rule 3. With 19–41 annual alert days expected, backyard wood burning is severely restricted.
View full San Mateo rules →Key Facts Comparison
| Fact | Daly City | San Mateo |
|---|---|---|
| Max size | 3 ft diameter, 2 ft high (recreational fire) | - |
| Distance from structures | 25 ft; 15 ft for portable outdoor fireplaces | - |
| Attendance | Constant, with extinguishing equipment | - |
| Spare the Air Alerts | All wood burning illegal, including fire pits | - |
| Gas/propane fire pits | Exempt from wood-burning bans | - |
| Wood-Burning Fire Pits | - | Banned on Spare the Air Alert days |
| Annual Alert Days | - | Estimated 19–41 per year (2025 update) |
| Gas Features | - | Check with Fire Department |
| Authority | - | BAAQMD Reg. 6 Rule 3 |
Highlighted rows indicate differences between cities.
Daly City FAQ
Can I have a wood-burning fire pit in my Daly City backyard?
Yes, if it meets the 2022 California Fire Code adopted by the city: fuel area no more than 3 feet across and 2 feet high, at least 25 feet from any structure or combustibles (15 feet for a manufactured portable outdoor fireplace), constantly attended, with water or an extinguisher at hand -- and never during a Spare the Air Alert.
How do I know if a Spare the Air Alert is in effect?
Check baaqmd.gov or sparetheair.org, or call 1-877-4NO-BURN. When an alert is called for fine particulate pollution, using fireplaces, wood stoves, pellet stoves, and outdoor fire pits is illegal throughout the Bay Area, indoors and outdoors.
Are propane or natural gas fire pits restricted?
Gas-fueled fire pits are not wood-burning devices, so Spare the Air bans do not apply. They still must be used per manufacturer instructions and kept a safe distance from structures under the fire code.
San Mateo FAQ
Are fire pits allowed in residential areas in San Mateo?
Outdoor wood-burning fire pits are banned on Spare the Air Alert days throughout San Mateo under BAAQMD Regulation 6, Rule 3. With 19–41 annual alert days expected, backyard wood burning is severely restricted.
What are the fire pit setback requirements in San Mateo?
Wood-Burning Fire Pits: Banned on Spare the Air Alert days. Annual Alert Days: Estimated 19–41 per year (2025 update). Gas Features: Check with Fire Department. Authority: BAAQMD Reg. 6 Rule 3.
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