Fire Regulations in Marin County, CA (2026)
7 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 1 city in Marin County, California.
Verified from official government sources
Fire Pits & Backyard Fires
Residential fire pits and chimineas are generally allowed in unincorporated Marin under the California Fire Code as adopted in Chapter 16.16 MCC, but spark arrestors are required, recreational fires must follow CFC § 307 size and clearance rules, and all outdoor open flames are banned countywide during Red Flag Warnings.
Fire pits allowed with restrictions; banned on Red Flag days
Heavy RestrictionsFire Safe Marin — Red Flag Warning Restrictions (Marin County guidance)
During Red Flag Warnings, residents must avoid these activities: No barbecues or fire-pits outdoors. No open flames including cooking, power tools, or mowers. No smoking outdoors.
Fireworks
All fireworks, including those marketed as 'safe and sane', are illegal year-round in Marin County. Possession or use is a misdemeanor with fines of roughly $410 locally, and state law adds $500–$1,000 fines plus possible jail.
All fireworks illegal in unincorporated Marin County
Heavy RestrictionsMarin County Code § 10.08.020 (Parks — Fireworks)
No person shall possess, bring onto, set off or otherwise cause to explode within parks any firecrackers, skyrockets or other fireworks or explosives.
Brush Clearance
Marin County requires 100 feet of defensible space around all structures in Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI) areas. State law (PRC §4291) and the Marin County Fire Code mandate two zones: Zone 1 (0–30 ft, lean and green) and Zone 2 (30–100 ft, reduced fuel).
Marin County Defensible Space and Brush Clearance
Light RestrictionsCal. Pub. Res. Code Sec. 4291 (Defensible Space - 100 Feet Clearance)
1965, Ch. 1144. ) 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 modifica...
Outdoor Burning
Open burning (debris piles, vegetation) is prohibited in unincorporated Marin County from May 1 to October 31. Outside that window, residents need a LE5 California Inter-Agency Burn Permit signed by Marin County Fire and may only burn on declared 'permissive burn days.'
Open burning banned May 1–Oct 31; permit required otherwise
Heavy RestrictionsCalifornia Public Resources Code § 4423
Permits are valid beginning May 1 of each year and require annual renewal. The issuing agency may require the permittee to contact the agency to determine permit suspension status prior to burning. Burning under permit by any person on public or private lands, except within incorporated cities, may be suspended, restricted, or otherwise prohibited by proclamation.
Wildfire Zones
Most of unincorporated Marin County is designated Wildland-Urban Interface under the Marin County Fire Code (Title 16). WUI properties must meet Chapter 7A construction standards for ignition-resistant materials and maintain 100 feet of defensible space year-round.
Marin County Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI) Zones
Some RestrictionsCAL FIRE / OSFM Fire Hazard Severity Zones (FHSZ)
Contact your local jurisdiction for information on a specific area that is located in the Local Responsibility Area. 2025 LRA FHSZ Rollout- All Counties PDF Maps FHSZ recommendations in LRA viewer Intermediary Data Sets for LRA FHSZ LRA FHSZ Combined Data as Recommended by the Office of the State Fire Marshal - Phases 1 through 4 Maps Released: Phase1 - February 10, 2025, Phase 2- February 24,2...
Smoke Detectors
Marin County Code § 19.14.020(2) requires State Fire Marshal-approved smoke alarms in any residential dwelling unit being altered or improved by at least $1,000, verified as a condition of final inspection on permits issued after July 1, 2023.
Marin County Smoke Alarm Verification Rule
Some RestrictionsMarin County Code of Ordinances § 19.14.020(2)
For all building permits issued after July 1, 2023: Pursuant to California Health and Safety Code section 13113.7(a)(2) and California Residential Code section R310.2.2, smoke alarms approved by the State Fire Marshal shall be installed and verified in residential dwelling units undergoing alterations and improvements when the value of the alteration or improvement is at least one thousand doll...
Propane Storage
Marin County Fire Code § 16.16.034 restricts where liquefied petroleum gas can be stored, tying the limit to the residential and commercial areas the County itself has established. The Marin County Fire Department, acting as the Fire Code Official, enforces the restriction on unincorporated land.
Marin County LP-Gas Storage Zone Limits
Some RestrictionsMarin County Code of Ordinances § 16.16.034
16.16.034 - Establishments of geographic limits in which storage of liquefied petroleum gases is to be restricted. The geographic limits referred to in Section 6104.2 of the International Fire Code, in which storage of liquefied petroleum gas is restricted, are amended as follows: In all residential and commercial areas as established by the County of Marin, whichever is applicable.
Fire Regulations by City in Marin County
1 cities in Marin County have their own fire regulations rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
All Marin County ordinances
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