7 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 6 cities in Alameda County, California.
Verified from official government sources
Fire pits allowed per California Fire Code with proper clearance. Prohibited on BAAQMD Spare the Air days if wood/solid fuel. Gas fire pits permitted.
All fireworks - including 'safe and sane' types - are prohibited in unincorporated Alameda County. Only three cities (Dublin, Newark, Union City) permit safe and sane fireworks during a limited window. Possession of dangerous fireworks is a misdemeanor under California Health & Safety Code §12700, with state fines starting at $1,000 and reaching $100,000 for large quantities.
California Health & Safety Code § 12700(a)–(b)
(a) Except as provided in Section 12702 and subdivision (b), a person who violates any provision of this part, or any regulations issued pursuant to this part, is guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction shall be punished by a fine of not less than one thousand dollars ($1,000) or more than two thousand dollars ($2,000), or by imprisonment in the county jail for not exceeding one year, or b...
Public Resources Code 4291 requires 100 feet of defensible space around all structures in VHFHSZ and SRA areas of Alameda County, enforced by CAL FIRE and the Alameda County Fire Department.
California Public Resources Code § 4291(a)
(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... The intensity of fuels management may vary within the 100-foot perimeter of the structure,...
Outdoor open burning is essentially prohibited in Alameda County under BAAQMD Regulation 5 Rules 3 and 6. Agricultural and prescribed burns require district permits and are limited to designated burn days. Residential yard waste burning is not allowed.
Much of east Alameda County including the Oakland Hills, Castro Valley, and Sunol foothills is designated Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone by CAL FIRE, triggering strict defensible space rules.
CAL FIRE Office of the State Fire Marshal — Fire Hazard Severity Zones
The State Fire Marshal is mandated to classify lands within State Responsibility Areas into Fire Hazard Severity Zones (FHSZ). Fire Hazard Severity Zones fall into one of the following classifications: Moderate, High, Very High. The California laws that require Fire Hazard Severity Zones include California Public Resources Code 4201-4204, California Code of Regulations Title 14, Section 1280 an...
California Health and Safety Code 13113.7 requires smoke alarms in every bedroom, outside each sleeping area, and on every level of all dwellings in Alameda County. Alarms over 10 years old must be replaced, and new installations must be 10-year sealed lithium battery units or hardwired with battery backup.
California Health & Safety Code § 13113.7(a)
(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 after Janua...
Recreational fires in Alameda County are regulated by BAAQMD Regulation 6 Rule 3 (wood-burning) and fire code Section 307. Fire pits must use clean seasoned wood or natural gas/propane, be 25 feet from structures, and are prohibited during Spare the Air alerts.
6 cities in Alameda County have their own fire regulations rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
8 verified rules • Backyard Fires, Brush Clearance
7 verified rules • Backyard Fires, Brush Clearance
7 verified rules • Backyard Fires, Brush Clearance
8 verified rules • Backyard Fires, Brush Clearance
7 verified rules • Backyard Fires, Brush Clearance
7 verified rules • Backyard Fires, Brush Clearance
See every category we cover for Alameda County — parking, noise, fences, fires, animals, pools, and more.
Alameda County Ordinance Hub →