Backyard Fires: Mountain View vs Santa Clara
How do backyard fires rules compare between Mountain View, CA and Santa Clara, CA?
Mountain View and Santa Clara have similar restriction levels.
Mountain View, CA
Santa Clara County
Small recreational backyard fires are permitted in approved devices with clean fuel. Wood fires are banned on BAAQMD Spare the Air alert days across the Bay Area.
View full Mountain View rules →Santa Clara, CA
Santa Clara County
Small backyard recreational fires are allowed in Santa Clara in a manufactured container, kept under 3 feet and 10 feet from structures. Larger bonfires are not permitted in residential yards.
View full Santa Clara rules →Key Facts Comparison
| Fact | Mountain View | Santa Clara |
|---|---|---|
| Approved device | Required | - |
| Clearance | 25 feet default | - |
| Fuel | Clean seasoned wood or gas | - |
| Spare the Air | No wood burning | - |
| Supervision | Adult must attend | - |
| Max fuel area | - | 3 ft diameter, 2 ft height |
| Setback | - | 10 ft from structures |
| Permit needed | - | Bonfires over 3 ft |
| Fuel type | - | Clean wood or charcoal only |
| Attendance | - | Adult present until out |
Highlighted rows indicate differences between cities.
Mountain View FAQ
Can I have an open campfire in my yard?
No. Mountain View backyard fires must be contained in an approved device; open ground campfires are not permitted within city limits.
What is a Spare the Air day?
It is a BAAQMD-declared 24-hour period when forecast particulate pollution is high and all wood burning is banned across the nine-county Bay Area.
Santa Clara FAQ
Can I have a fire in a dug pit?
Santa Clara follows the California Fire Code recreational fire definition. Use a manufactured pit or fireplace rather than digging into soil, and maintain all required clearances.
Do I need to tell the fire department?
No, not for a typical small recreational fire that meets size and clearance rules. Bonfires larger than that require a permit application in advance.
Compare other topics
See how Mountain View and Santa Clara compare on other ordinance categories.
Want to add a third city?
Use our full comparison tool to compare up to three cities.
Open Comparison Tool