8 rules for unincorporated Colusa County, California.
Verified from official government sources
Outdoor fire pits and recreational fires in unincorporated Colusa County are treated as open burning. Because much of the county is State Responsibility Area protected by CAL FIRE's Sonoma-Lake-Napa Unit, a CAL FIRE burn permit and a permissive 'burn day' from the Colusa County Air Pollution Control District are generally required, and burning is suspended during dry season.
Unlike many wildfire-prone California counties, unincorporated Colusa County ALLOWS state-approved 'safe and sane' fireworks. County Code Chapter 7 (Fire Prevention) permits sale only from temporary stands run by qualified local nonprofits with a fire district permit. Sales run noon June 28 through midnight July 5, and discharge is legal only during that window. 'Dangerous' fireworks remain banned statewide.
Unincorporated Colusa County has its own weed-abatement ordinance (County Code Chapter 7A) requiring property owners to clear weeds within 50 feet of structures by an annual 'plow down date.' In State Responsibility Areas, California's PRC 4291 separately requires 100 feet of defensible space. Failure to abate is an infraction and the county can clear weeds and bill the owner.
Open burning of vegetation and residential waste in unincorporated Colusa County is regulated by the Colusa County Air Pollution Control District and, in State Responsibility Areas, by CAL FIRE. Burning is only allowed on permissive 'burn days,' a permit is required, and District Rule 300 prohibits burning petroleum products, tires, garbage, demolition debris and other harmful materials.
Unincorporated Colusa County spans flat Sacramento Valley farmland and the western Coast Range foothills (Stonyford, Lodoga, Mendocino National Forest). Most of the unincorporated area is State Responsibility Area protected by CAL FIRE's Sonoma-Lake-Napa Unit, with the highest wildfire risk in the western foothills. State law PRC 4291 requires 100 feet of defensible space around structures in these zones.
Unincorporated Colusa County has not written its own smoke-alarm ordinance. Instead, County Code Chapter 5 adopts the California Building, Residential and Fire Codes (Title 24), which set smoke-alarm and carbon-monoxide requirements. State law also requires working smoke alarms in all dwelling units, with carbon-monoxide alarms where fuel-burning appliances or attached garages exist.
Backyard and recreational fires in unincorporated Colusa County are controlled by Air Pollution Control District burn-day rules and, in State Responsibility Areas, by CAL FIRE permits and suspensions. County Code Sec. 7-8 also restricts open flame in grass, brush and stubble from May 1 to November 1. A permissive burn day and a burn permit are generally required.
Unincorporated Colusa County restricts where liquefied petroleum gas (LPG/propane) bulk storage may be located. County Code Chapter 7 limits bulk LPG storage near the developed water-district areas of Colusa, Arbuckle, Maxwell, Stonyford and other communities. Household propane tanks and installations also follow the adopted California Fire Code and state LPG safety standards.
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