Fire Regulations in San Benito County, CA (2026)
6 rules for unincorporated San Benito County, California.
Verified from official government sources
Fire Pits & Backyard Fires
Unincorporated San Benito County limits communal fire pits at licensed low-impact camping sites to one per parcel, capped at three feet wide and two feet tall, and set back 25 feet from structures.
San Benito County Camping Fire Pit Rules
Some RestrictionsSan Benito County Code § 25.08.031(4)
Communal/recreational fire pits. (a) There can be only one communal wood burning fire pit per APN and shall be operated by the site manager or property owner... (b) Communal and recreational fires and fire pits shall comply with the following: 1. Recreational fires are not to be wider than three feet in diameter and two feet in height. 2. Recreational fires shall not be conducted within 25 feet...
Fireworks
Unincorporated San Benito County bans selling, possessing, or igniting any fireworks except state-defined 'safe and sane' fireworks; violations are a public nuisance and a misdemeanor.
Fireworks Ban in Unincorporated San Benito County
Significant RestrictionsSan Benito County Code § 11.05.002A
Other than "safe and sane fireworks," as defined in the Health and Safety Code of the state, no person shall sell, possess, ignite, fire, permit to be exploded, cause to be exploded or explode any fireworks, as defined in the Health and Safety Code of the state, within the unincorporated area of the county. (Ord. 1,022, § 2) § 11.05.003 VIOLATION; NUISANCE. Violation of this chapter constitu...
Brush Clearance
New buildings and accessory structures on parcels of one acre or more in unincorporated San Benito County must sit at least 30 feet from property lines and road centerlines, or use a recorded 30-foot vegetation clearance easement instead.
San Benito County Defensible Space Setback
Some RestrictionsSan Benito County Code § 23.27.004(Z)
(Z) Setback for structure defensible space. All parcels one acre and larger shall provide a minimum 30-foot setback for buildings and accessory buildings from all property lines and/or the center of a road. As an alternative, recorded evidence of a vegetation clearance easement of at least 30 feet width can be submitted for reduced setbacks.
Outdoor Burning
Burning solid waste is prohibited by state law across unincorporated San Benito County; vegetation can be burned only with a prior written burn permit from CalFire, and exemptions run through the regional air district.
San Benito County Open Burning Rules
Significant RestrictionsSan Benito County Code § 15.01.028
Burning of solid waste is prohibited by state law. Any exemption to this law is regulated by the Monterey Bay Unified Air Pollution Control District. Vegetation may be burned only with the prior written approval (burn permit) of the California Department of Forestry.
Wildfire Zones
New buildings anywhere in unincorporated San Benito County need at least a Class B roof, but buildings in Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones must use Class A roofing.
San Benito County Wildfire Zone Roofing Rule
Some RestrictionsSan Benito County Code § 21.01.021 (Appendix R, § R102.2)
R102.1 General. (FIRE 026). Roofing requirements for all new buildings shall be a minimum Class "B" roof assembly as defined by the California Building Code. EXCEPTION: Greenhouses shall be exempt from the requirements of this section. 2. R102.2 Very High Hazard Severity Zones. (FIRE 027). Roofing requirements for all new buildings in Very High Hazard Severity Zones shall be a min...
Smoke Detectors
In unincorporated San Benito County, the local Fire Code's Appendix Q requires new or remodeled single-family dwellings to install a full household fire warning system meeting NFPA 72, on top of the smoke-alarm standards state law already sets.
San Benito County Residential Fire Alarms
Some RestrictionsSan Benito County Code § 21.01.021(N), Appendix Q § Q110.4
Q110.4 Residential fire alarm systems. (FIRE 024). The residence shall be fully protected with an approved household fire warning system as defined by NFPA 72. Plans and specifications for the household fire warning system shall be submitted by a California licensed C-10 contractor and approved prior to installation. Household fire warning systems installed in lieu of single-station smoke alarm...
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