Fire Regulations in Mendocino County, CA (2026)
3 rules for unincorporated Mendocino County, California.
Verified from official government sources
Fireworks
Mendocino County bans possessing, storing, using, selling or transporting fireworks anywhere in the unincorporated county, including 'safe and sane' fireworks, with the only exception a permitted public display under state law. Violating the ban is a misdemeanor.
Mendocino County Fireworks Ban
Heavy RestrictionsMendocino County Code Sec. 8.40.020 (Declarations)
It shall be unlawful for any person, firm or corporation to have in his or its possession, or too keep, store, use, shoot, discharge, set off, ignite, manufacture, sell, give or transport any fireworks within the County of Mendocino, except for use in a public display of fireworks, pursuant to a permit obtained under the provisions of Health and Safety Code sections 12570, et seq.
Outdoor Burning
Mendocino County bans nearly all outdoor fires under Chapter 9.33 of the county code, except for newspaper used to start a fire, charcoal or firewood burned for cooking or recreation, and vegetative-matter burning already regulated under Air Pollution Control District Regulation 2. Open burning is also barred outright on any state- or district-declared non-burn day.
Mendocino County Outdoor Burning Ban
Significant RestrictionsMendocino County Code § 9.33.050 (Prohibited Burning)
(A)No person shall ignite or cause to be ignited or suffer, allow or maintain any outdoor fire in Mendocino County, which fires burn any material except:(1)Vegetative matter. Agricultural and rural nonagricultural burning of vegetative matter is regulated by Regulation 2 of the North Coast Air Basin, and this Chapter is not an abridgement of that regulation;(2)Newspaper as necessary to start fi...
Wildfire Zones
Mendocino County's Coastal Zone hazard chapter requires new development to be sited against CAL FIRE's three-tier Fire Hazard Severity Classification of moderate, high or extreme risk under Section 20.500.025. Where feasible, the county steers construction away from extreme-hazard sites, limiting them mainly to agricultural and open-space uses.
Mendocino County Coastal Wildfire Zone Rules
Some RestrictionsMendocino County Code §§ 20.500.005, 20.500.025
This Chapter shall apply to all development proposed in the Coastal Zone unless and until it is determined by the County Coastal Permit Administrator that the project is not subject to threats from geologic, fire, flood or other hazards. ... (A)Fire hazard areas shall be identified using the California Department of Forestry's Fire Hazard Severity Classification System which classifies hazards ...
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