8 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 8 cities in San Bernardino County, California.
Verified from official government sources
Recreational fires must be 3ft x 2ft maximum, 25ft from structures. Gas fire rings: no permit, 15ft setback. In Wildfire Risk Areas, only gas/propane fires are allowed. Bonfires require $209 permit with 50ft setback. Adult attendant required at all times.
All fireworks, including California Safe and Sane fireworks, are illegal to possess, sell, store, or use in unincorporated San Bernardino County. State law (Cal. H&S Code Sections 12500-12728) bans dangerous fireworks statewide, and the County has not authorized Safe and Sane sales or use anywhere in unincorporated territory. First-offense administrative fines reach $1,250.
PRC 4291 requires 100 feet of defensible space around structures in San Bernardino County fire zones. Zone 0 is ember-resistant, Zone 1 is lean/clean/green, Zone 2 is reduced fuel.
California Public Resources Code Section 4291 (Defensible Space)
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 modification necessary sha...
Open outdoor burning of yard waste and debris is heavily restricted in San Bernardino County. SCAQMD Rule 444 prohibits most agricultural and residential open burning in the South Coast basin. Desert areas under Mojave Desert AQMD follow Rule 445. Permissible burns require permits, Permissive Burn Days, and CAL FIRE/County Fire approval.
San Bernardino County has extensive Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones covering mountains, foothills, and chaparral areas. These areas must comply with PRC 4291 defensible space and WUI code.
California Public Resources Code 4201-4204; CAL FIRE Fire Hazard Severity Zones
What are Fire Hazard Severity Zones? The State Fire Marshal is mandated to classify lands within State Responsibility Areas into Fire Hazard Severity Zones (FHSZ). Fire Hazard Severity Zones fall into one of the following classifications: Moderate High Very High The California laws that require Fire Hazard Severity Zones include California Public Resources Code 4201-4204, California Code of Reg...
California Health and Safety Code 13113.7 requires smoke alarms in every bedroom, outside each sleeping area, and on every floor of all California dwellings. Alarms installed after July 2014 must be 10-year sealed-battery or hardwired with battery backup. County inspections on sales and rental turnover verify compliance.
Backyard recreational fires in unincorporated San Bernardino County must comply with California Fire Code Section 307: portable fire pits must be at least 15 feet from structures (3 feet for containers under 1 cubic foot), use clean dry wood only, be attended at all times, and have water/extinguisher ready. All fires prohibited on Red Flag days and in designated fire-restricted areas.
San Bernardino County Fire Protection District enforces California Fire Code propane storage limits, with stricter setbacks in the San Bernardino Mountains and high-fire WUI zones around Big Bear, Lake Arrowhead, Crestline, and the Cajon Pass corridor.
8 cities in San Bernardino County have their own fire regulations rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
7 verified rules • Backyard Fires, Brush Clearance
7 verified rules • Backyard Fires, Brush Clearance
7 verified rules • Backyard Fires, Brush Clearance
7 verified rules • Backyard Fires, Brush Clearance
7 verified rules • Backyard Fires, Brush Clearance
6 verified rules • Brush Clearance, Fire Pit Rules
6 verified rules • Brush Clearance, Fire Pit Rules
6 verified rules • Brush Clearance, Fire Pit Rules
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