6 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 1 city in Butte County, California.
Verified from official government sources
Recreational backyard fire pits in unincorporated Butte County are governed by California Fire Code Section 307 (recreational fires) and require a free California Campfire Permit when used on private property outside an organized residence. Fire pits must be at least 25 feet from any structure or combustible material, may not exceed 3 feet across or 2 feet tall, and must be constantly attended with an extinguishing tool on hand. Permanent gas/propane fire features are exempt from the campfire permit requirement.
California Fire Code (2025) Sections 307.4.2 and 307.5 (adopted by Butte County)
307.4.2 Recreational fires. Recreational fires shall not be conducted within 25 feet (7620 mm) of a structure or combustible material. Conditions that could cause a fire to spread within 25 feet of a structure shall be eliminated prior to ignition. 307.5 Attendance. Open burning, bonfires, recreational fires and use of portable outdoor fireplaces shall be constantly attended until the fire is e...
Butte County Code Chapter 38 prohibits the possession, sale, use, or discharge of any fireworks in the unincorporated areas of the county, including state-classified 'safe and sane' fireworks. Only the cities of Oroville, Gridley, and Biggs permit limited 'safe and sane' fireworks sales within their city limits, and even those fireworks may not be carried out of those city boundaries.
Butte County Sheriff / District Attorney Joint Fireworks Prohibition Notice (June 27, 2024); Butte County Code Ch. 38
Any possession of fireworks, even those designated as Safe and Sane, within the unincorporated portions of Butte County is illegal and strictly prohibited. Only the cities of Oroville, Gridley, and Biggs allow for the sales of Safe and Sane fireworks within their city limits. Any lighting or even possession of any fireworks outside those city limits is illegal and subject to fines upwards of $1...
Butte County Code Chapter 38A (Fire Prevention and Protection) and California Public Resources Code §4291 require property owners in the State Responsibility Area (SRA) to maintain 100 feet of defensible space around any structure. Enforcement was substantially tightened after the 2018 Camp Fire.
Effective May 1, the Butte County Fire Department (CAL FIRE Butte Unit) requires a CAL FIRE burn permit for all residential dooryard burning in the unincorporated county. Even with a permit, burning is only allowed on Permissive Burn Days declared by the Butte County Air Quality Management District (BCAQMD), and only specified natural vegetation may be burned. CAL FIRE annually suspends all permits (typically July through October) during peak wildfire season.
Butte County Air Quality Management District - Outdoor Residential Burning Rules
It is illegal to burn any non-vegetative material, including, but not limited to garbage, paper, cardboard, any dimensional lumber, tires, construction materials, plastic, rubber, paint, bedding or furniture. Burn barrels are illegal. Only natural vegetation grown on the property can be burned. Vegetation must be dry and free of dirt; allow vegetation to dry for at least 15 days if under 6 inch...
Most of unincorporated Butte County lies in the State Responsibility Area (SRA) classified by CAL FIRE as Moderate, High, or Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone. Butte County Code Chapter 53 (Camp Fire Recovery) imposes ignition-resistant construction standards on rebuilds inside the Camp Fire footprint.
Backyard ('dooryard') burning at a single- or two-family residence in unincorporated Butte County is permitted only with a CAL FIRE burn permit, on a Permissive Burn Day, during posted burn hours, and only of natural vegetation grown on the property. Pile size and clearance restrictions apply, and burning is suspended entirely during peak wildfire season under PRC Section 4423.
Butte County Air Quality Management District / CAL FIRE Butte Unit Residential Burning Guidelines
If the homeowner lives on a lot equal to or less than 1 acre, burn piles can only be 4 feet by 4 feet in size. The pile size may not exceed four (4) feet in diameter. All areas within ten (10) feet of the pile must be free and clear of all vegetation and flammable material. A responsible adult must be in attendance of the fire at all times until the fire is dead out. You must have enough water ...
1 cities in Butte County have their own fire regulations rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
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