8 rules for unincorporated Glenn County, California.
Verified from official government sources
Backyard fire pits and recreational fires in unincorporated Glenn County are treated as open burning, governed by Glenn County Air Pollution Control District (APCD) 'burn day' rules and CAL FIRE fire-season restrictions. Residents must confirm it is a permissive burn day before igniting, keep clearance around the fire, and never burn when sustained winds exceed 15 mph.
Glenn County is a Sacramento Valley agricultural county where state-approved 'Safe and Sane' fireworks are legal for private use, unlike many neighboring foothill counties. According to CAL FIRE, 'Safe and Sane' fireworks are the only legal fireworks for private use in Glenn County. All 'dangerous' fireworks (firecrackers, sky rockets, Roman candles) remain illegal statewide under California law.
Properties in unincorporated Glenn County's State Responsibility Area — especially the western Coast Range foothills around Elk Creek and Stonyford — must maintain 100 feet of defensible space around structures under California Public Resources Code 4291. CAL FIRE's Tehama-Glenn Unit conducts defensible-space inspections. The county also abates hazardous weeds and vegetation as a fire-hazard public nuisance.
Outdoor open burning in unincorporated Glenn County requires a valid permit and is regulated by the Glenn County Air Pollution Control District (APCD) plus CAL FIRE. All burning is allowed only on declared permissive burn days, within set hours, with no burning in winds over 15 mph. Burning prohibited materials such as garbage, plastic, and tires is illegal.
Western unincorporated Glenn County — the Coast Range foothills around Elk Creek, Stonyford, and the Mendocino National Forest edge — falls within the State Responsibility Area and CAL FIRE-mapped Fire Hazard Severity Zones (Moderate/High/Very High). Properties in these zones must meet defensible-space (PRC 4291) and wildland building standards; the valley floor around Willows and Orland is lower risk.
Smoke alarm requirements in unincorporated Glenn County come from California state law, not a separate county ordinance. Under California Health & Safety Code 13113.7 and the California Residential Code, smoke alarms are required in every dwelling — in each bedroom, outside each sleeping area, and on every level. New battery-only alarms must have a sealed 10-year battery.
Backyard and recreational fires in unincorporated Glenn County are open fires controlled by the Glenn County APCD burn-day system and CAL FIRE fire-season rules. Burning is allowed only on permissive burn days, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., never in winds over 15 mph, and only with dry natural vegetation. CAL FIRE requires a burn permit and clearance around the fire.
Propane (LPG) storage in unincorporated Glenn County is governed by the California Fire Code, which Glenn County has adopted for its unincorporated areas (2019 edition), together with state LPG regulations. There is no special county-only propane rule; tank placement, separation distances, and permits follow the adopted Fire Code and are enforced by the fire authority.
See every category we cover for Glenn County — parking, noise, fences, fires, animals, pools, and more.
Glenn County Ordinance Hub →