7 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 5 cities in Fresno County, California.
Verified from official government sources
Recreational fire pits allowed for cooking/warming when using seasoned wood or propane/natural gas. Must be 25+ ft from structures and vegetation. SJVAPCD Rule 4901 restricts wood-burning on declared no-burn nights (Nov-Feb).
ALL consumer fireworks, including 'Safe and Sane,' are BANNED in unincorporated Fresno County. Possession, sale, or discharge carries fines up to $1,000 plus cost recovery for fire suppression.
CA PRC §4291 requires 100 ft of defensible space around structures in State Responsibility Areas (SRA) and Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones. Zone 0 (0-5 ft): ember-resistant; Zone 1 (5-30 ft): lean/clean/green; Zone 2 (30-100 ft): reduce.
California Public Resources Code Section 4291
(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...
Outdoor burning in Fresno County requires both a CAL FIRE burn permit AND a San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District (SJVAPCD) permissive burn day. SJVAPCD Rule 4103 heavily restricts agricultural burning.
Eastern Fresno County foothills are designated Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones (VHFHSZ) by CAL FIRE. New construction in SRA/VHFHSZ must comply with CA Building Code Chapter 7A (WUI) ignition-resistant materials.
CAL FIRE Office of the State Fire Marshal - Fire Hazard Severity Zones (PRC 4201-4204)
Fire Hazard Severity Zones California's seasonally dry Mediterranean climate lends itself to wildfires, and in an effort to better prepare, CAL FIRE is required to classify the severity of fire hazard in areas of California. What are Fire Hazard Severity Zones? The State Fire Marshal is mandated to classify lands within State Responsibility Areas into Fire Hazard Severity Zones (FHSZ). Fire Haz...
California Health and Safety Code 13113.7 requires smoke alarms in all existing dwellings in Fresno County, including single-family homes, apartments, and mobile homes. Detectors must be hardwired with battery backup in remodeled or new construction, and all units must use 10-year sealed battery alarms as of 2014.
California Health and Safety Code Section 13113.7
(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. (2) For all dwelling units intended for human occupancy for which a building permit is issued on or after Janu...
Recreational backyard fires in unincorporated Fresno County are allowed in approved fire pits or outdoor fireplaces but are subject to SJVAPCD no-burn day restrictions. Wood-burning fires are prohibited on no-burn days declared under the Check Before You Burn program, while gas-fueled fire features are exempt.
5 cities in Fresno County have their own fire regulations rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
8 verified rules • Backyard Fires, Brush Clearance
7 verified rules • Backyard Fires, Brush Clearance
7 verified rules • Backyard Fires, Brush Clearance
7 verified rules • Backyard Fires, Brush Clearance
7 verified rules • Backyard Fires, Brush Clearance
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