5 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 4 cities in San Joaquin County, California.
Verified from official government sources
Recreational fire pits in unincorporated San Joaquin County are subject to SJVAPCD daily burn day status and county fire regulations. Wood-burning fires are prohibited on SJVAPCD no-burn days. Gas fire pits are generally not subject to burn day restrictions.
San Joaquin County Board of Supervisors adopted a stricter fireworks ordinance in June 2025. All fireworks — including Safe and Sane — are banned in unincorporated county areas. Public displays require a permit from the County Fire Warden. Salute-type fireworks are banned even at permitted displays.
Parcels in San Joaquin County within State Responsibility Areas (SRA) or mapped Fire Hazard Severity Zones must maintain 100 feet of defensible space per California PRC §4291. The eastern foothills (Clements, Linden, Lockeford area) contain SRA land inspected by CAL FIRE. Weed abatement on valley-floor parcels is handled by county Code Enforcement under Government Code §39560.
Cal. Public Resources Code § 4291 (Defensible Space - Brush Clearance)
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 shall consider the flammability of the structure as affected by building material, building standards, location, and type of vegetation. Fuels shall be maintained and spaced in a con...
Open burning in San Joaquin County is subject to SJVAPCD rules. Most residential open burning is prohibited. Agricultural burning is under a near-total ban (effective January 1, 2025) under SB 705. CAL FIRE burn permits are required for any allowed burning.
CalFire's Fire Hazard Severity Zone (FHSZ) maps designate portions of eastern San Joaquin County — Lodi foothills, Clements, Linden, and Farmington areas — as Moderate or High LRA (Local Responsibility Area) hazard zones. PRC §4291 requires 100 feet of defensible space around structures in SRA (State Responsibility Areas). New construction in designated zones must comply with California Building Code Chapter 7A (wildland-urban interface) fire-resistive materials.
CA Public Resources Code §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 shall con...
4 cities in San Joaquin County have their own fire regulations rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
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