4 rules for unincorporated El Dorado County, California.
Verified from official government sources
Open burning and outdoor fires in unincorporated El Dorado County are regulated under Chapter 8.08 (Fire Prevention) of the County Code and by the local fire protection district with jurisdiction. Outdoor wood-burning fire pits, fire rings, and bonfires are restricted year-round and prohibited entirely during declared fire season and on no-burn days. CAL FIRE Amador-El Dorado Unit declares the start and end of fire season for the State Responsibility Area. Permanently installed gas fire pits with a self-contained gas supply are generally allowed but must comply with manufacturer setbacks and local fire district rules. Within the Lake Tahoe Air Basin, additional El Dorado County Air Quality Management District (AQMD) no-burn day rules apply.
All fireworks - including 'safe and sane' fireworks - are prohibited in unincorporated El Dorado County. The prohibition is implemented through Title 8 (Public Health and Safety) Chapter 8.08 (Fire Prevention) and is reinforced by the County's high wildfire risk and CAL FIRE State Responsibility Area designation across most of the unincorporated area. Possession, sale, use, or discharge of any fireworks in unincorporated El Dorado County can result in misdemeanor citation. State authority is California Health & Safety Code Sections 12500-12728 (State Fireworks Law) and Title 19 CCR Section 980 et seq.
El Dorado County requires 100 feet of defensible space around every habitable structure under Chapter 8.09 of the County Code (Ordinance 5186, adopted July 16, 2024), aligned with California Public Resources Code Section 4291 and 14 CCR Section 1299. Defensible space is split into Zone 1 (0-30 feet, 'lean and green') and Zone 2 (30-100 feet, reduced fuel). Additional clearance up to 300 feet may be required where steep terrain, weather, structure age, road access, or vegetation warrants. Inspections are performed by CAL FIRE, the local fire protection district, or El Dorado County Office of Wildfire Preparedness and Resilience.
Most of unincorporated El Dorado County sits within a CAL FIRE State Responsibility Area, and large portions are mapped as High or Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones (FHSZ). The County adopted updated FHSZ maps consistent with CAL FIRE's statewide remap. Properties in High and Very High FHSZ are subject to: 100-foot defensible space under Chapter 8.09 of the County Code, Chapter 7A fire-resistant construction standards (California Building Code), AB 38 defensible space inspections at sale, and additional access, water supply, and fuel modification requirements under the County's Fire Safe Regulations and Title 130 Zoning. Recent fires include the King, Caldor, and Mosquito fires.
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