8 rules for unincorporated Modoc County, California.
Verified from official government sources
Backyard fire pits in unincorporated Modoc County are governed by the 2022 California Fire Code, adopted by the county. A recreational fire must be kept small (fuel area under 3 feet) and at least 25 feet from anything that can burn, and an adult plus water and a shovel must always be present.
In unincorporated Modoc County there is no local ordinance authorizing 'safe and sane' fireworks, so they default to prohibited under state law, and 'dangerous' fireworks (firecrackers, rockets, mortars) are banned statewide. Fireworks of any kind are always illegal on the surrounding Modoc National Forest and BLM lands.
Properties in unincorporated Modoc County's State Responsibility Area must maintain 100 feet of defensible space around structures under California Public Resources Code 4291. Modoc County Code Chapter 8.31 adopts CAL FIRE's fire hazard severity maps and the PRC 4290/4291 clearance requirements.
Outdoor open burning in unincorporated Modoc County requires a free CAL FIRE burn permit (mandatory for hazard-reduction burning from May 1, 2026) and may only happen on a permissive burn day approved by the Modoc County Air Pollution Control District. Only natural vegetation may be burned — never garbage, plastic, or household trash.
Modoc County Code Chapter 8.31 adopts CAL FIRE's fire hazard severity zone maps and the State Responsibility Area fire-safe standards. New rural dwellings must use Chapter 7A / R337 wildfire-resistant construction and maintain defensible space under California Public Resources Code 4290 and 4291.
Smoke alarm and carbon monoxide alarm requirements in unincorporated Modoc County come from the 2022 California Residential and Building Codes, which the county adopts through Code Chapter 15.01. There is no separate county smoke-detector ordinance; the statewide code sets where alarms are required.
Backyard fires in unincorporated Modoc County fall under the adopted 2022 California Fire Code and the county's burn rules. Small recreational fires must stay 25 feet from anything combustible; burning yard debris requires a free CAL FIRE permit and a permissive burn day from the Modoc County APCD, and only natural vegetation may be burned.
Propane (LP-gas) storage in unincorporated Modoc County is regulated by the 2022 California Fire Code, adopted through County Code Chapter 15.01, plus the California Mechanical Code. There is no separate county propane ordinance; tank installation requires a permit and must meet state clearance and NFPA 58 standards.
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