7 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 9 cities in Contra Costa County, California.
Verified from official government sources
Fire pits in unincorporated Contra Costa County fall under Fire Code Section 4104.2 — a 10-foot setback from combustibles, with exceptions for single-family residential use, small LP-gas containers under 2.5 pounds, and sprinklered buildings. No county permit is required, but the fire official can order hazardous fires extinguished.
Contra Costa County Ordinance No. 2025-14, Section 4104.2 (Open-flame cooking devices)
(ao) Section 4104.2 in Chapter 41 (Temporary Heating and Cooking Operations) is amended, to read: "4104.2 Open-flame cooking devices. Charcoal burners and other open-flame cooking devices shall not be operated on combustible balconies or within 10 feet (3048 mm) of combustible construction. Exceptions: 1. Residential occupancies 2. Where buildings, balconies and decks are protected by an autom...
Contra Costa County Ordinance Code Chapter 44-2 (as amended by Ordinance 2021-19) and Section 5601.1.3 of the County Fire Code (Ord. 2025-14) prohibit the possession, manufacture, sale, offer for sale, use, and discharge of all fireworks in unincorporated areas, including state-classified 'safe and sane' fireworks. There is no carve-out for the Fourth of July.
Contra Costa County Ordinance Code Section 44-2.004
44-2.004 Prohibition. No person shall possess, manufacture, sell, offer to sell, use, or discharge, any fireworks. (Ords. 2021-19 Section 2, 72-19 Section 1: prior code Section 3220; Ord. 684.)
Properties in State Responsibility Areas and Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones across unincorporated Contra Costa must maintain 100 feet of defensible space under Public Resources Code 4291. ConFire conducts annual inspections in the WUI, and non-compliance can trigger abatement, liens, and fines starting at $100 and escalating to misdemeanor charges.
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, except as provided in subparagraph (B). The amount of fuel modification necessary shall con...
Open burning in unincorporated Contra Costa County is governed by BAAQMD Regulation 5 and County Fire Code Section 324. Residential yard-waste and trash burning is prohibited; allowable burns require a fire-district permit, a designated burn day, and no ignition before 10 a.m.
Contra Costa County Ordinance No. 2025-14, Section 324 (Exterior Fire Hazard Control)
(i) Chapter 3 (General Precautions Against Fire) is amended by adding new Section 324 (Exterior Fire Hazard Control), to read: "324. Exterior Fire Hazard Control. 324.1. Subsurface Fires. 324.1.1. Peat Fire. It is the duty of each person, firm, corporation, or association not to permit a peat fire or a fire involving combustible vegetable matters under the surface of the natural ground to re...
Wildfire rules in unincorporated Contra Costa County combine the state's 100-foot defensible-space requirement (PRC §4291) with the county fire code's hazardous-vegetation standards. Fire districts enforce, can abate uncleared parcels, and can bill owners for the work and for suppression costs.
Contra Costa County Ordinance No. 2025-14, Section 202 (Definitions)
(h) Section 202 or Chapter 2 (Definitions) is amended to include the following additional defined terms: "Hazardous Vegetation. Vegetation that is combustible and endangers the public safety by creating a fire hazard including but not limited to seasonal and recurrent grasses, weeds, stubble, brush, dry leaves, dry needles, dead, dying or diseased trees and any other vegetation as determined b...
Every dwelling in unincorporated Contra Costa must have working smoke alarms in each bedroom, outside every sleeping area, and on every floor per California Health and Safety Code 13113.7 and CRC R314. Alarms installed after 2015 must be 10-year sealed-battery or hardwired with battery backup, and carbon monoxide alarms are also required.
California Health & Safety Code § 13113.7(a)(1), (d)
(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. (d) (1) The owner shall be responsible for testing and maintaining alarms in hotels, motels, lodging houses, a...
Backyard burning in unincorporated Contra Costa County is tightly limited: BAAQMD Regulation 5 prohibits burning yard waste, and recreational wood fires aren't among its allowed categories. The Fire Code lets officials declare hazardous fires a public nuisance, and suppression costs can be billed to the property owner.
Contra Costa County Ordinance No. 2025-14 (Adoption of the 2025 California Fire Code and Local Amendments), Sections 202 and 112.4
(h) Section 202 or Chapter 2 (Definitions) is amended to include the following additional defined terms: "Combustible Material. Rubbish, litter or material of any kind other than hazardous vegetation that is combustible and endangers the public safety by creating a fire hazard as determined by the fire code official." "Public Nuisance. A declaration by the fire code official that the presence...
9 cities in Contra Costa County have their own fire regulations rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
5 verified rules • Brush Clearance, Fire Pit Rules
5 verified rules • Brush Clearance, Fire Pit Rules
6 verified rules • Backyard Fires, Brush Clearance
5 verified rules • Brush Clearance, Fire Pit Rules
5 verified rules • Brush Clearance, Fire Pit Rules
5 verified rules • Brush Clearance, Fire Pit Rules
5 verified rules • Brush Clearance, Fire Pit Rules
6 verified rules • Brush Clearance, Fire Pit Rules
6 verified rules • Brush Clearance, Fire Pit Rules
See every category we cover for Contra Costa County — parking, noise, fences, fires, animals, pools, and more.
Contra Costa County Ordinance Hub →