8 rules for unincorporated Amador County, California.
Verified from official government sources
Backyard fire pits and recreational fires in unincorporated Amador County are treated as open burning and are tightly controlled by fire conditions. During declared fire season (typically beginning around May 1) CAL FIRE's Amador-El Dorado Unit may suspend burning, and burn barrels are illegal. Outside burn suspensions, recreational fires must be kept small, cleared around, and attended at all times.
In the unincorporated areas of Amador County, fireworks — including state-approved 'safe and sane' fireworks — cannot be sold or used. The blanket prohibition reflects the Sierra Nevada foothill county's extreme wildfire risk. Safe-and-sane fireworks are only permitted inside the incorporated cities of Jackson, Sutter Creek, Ione, and Plymouth; Amador City and all unincorporated territory prohibit them entirely.
Because most of unincorporated Amador County is State Responsibility Area, property owners must maintain 100 feet of defensible space around structures under California Public Resources Code 4291, enforced by CAL FIRE's Amador-El Dorado Unit through LE-100 inspections. The Amador County Code also requires clearing flammable material at least 15 feet from building walls.
Outdoor burning in unincorporated Amador County requires two approvals: a free CAL FIRE residential burn permit (valid from May 1) and a permissive 'burn day' from the Amador County Air District. Only dry vegetation grown on the property may be burned — no trash, and burn barrels are illegal. Large piles need a paid Air District permit.
Most of unincorporated Amador County lies in State Responsibility Area (SRA) with Moderate, High, and Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones mapped by CAL FIRE. The 2015 Butte Fire burned over 70,000 acres in Amador and Calaveras counties. Properties in these zones face PRC 4291 defensible-space rules and Wildland-Urban Interface building standards.
Amador County follows California state law on smoke and carbon monoxide alarms rather than a separate county ordinance. Under Health & Safety Code 13113.7, State Fire Marshal-approved smoke alarms are required in every dwelling, and HSC 13260 et seq. requires carbon monoxide alarms in homes with fuel-burning appliances, fireplaces, or attached garages.
Backyard open fires in unincorporated Amador County are open burning and require a permissive burn day from the Amador County Air District plus, from May 1, a free CAL FIRE residential burn permit. Only dry vegetation grown on the property may be burned; trash and burn barrels are prohibited. CAL FIRE suspends burning during fire season.
Propane (LP-gas) storage in unincorporated Amador County is governed by the California Fire Code (Chapter 61) and NFPA 58, which the county adopts, not a unique county ordinance. Residential aboveground tanks must meet setback distances from buildings and property lines based on tank size — generally at least 10 feet for typical 125–500 gallon home tanks.
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