5 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 1 city in Sonoma County, California.
Verified from official government sources
Unincorporated Sonoma County operates under the County Fire Safety Ordinance (Chapter 13 of the Sonoma County Code) which adopts the California Fire Code with local amendments. Open-flame recreational fires (including backyard fire pits and chimineas) are tightly controlled because much of the unincorporated county lies in a Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone. During declared fire season and on any 'Red Flag' or PSPS day, the Fire Marshal routinely suspends recreational burning. Gas- and propane-fueled patio appliances installed per manufacturer instructions are generally allowed; wood/charcoal fires require a burn permit and 25-foot clearance.
All fireworks - including state-approved 'Safe and Sane' fireworks and sparklers - are illegal everywhere in unincorporated Sonoma County. The ban traces to the catastrophic Tubbs (2017), Kincade (2019), and Glass/Walbridge (2020) fires; the Sheriff's Office and Permit Sonoma enforce it strictly on and around July 4. The only fireworks lawfully discharged in unincorporated areas are licensed public displays operated by a California state-licensed pyrotechnic operator with a permit from the Sonoma County Fire Marshal under California Health & Safety Code Section 12500 et seq.
Sonoma County Code Chapter 13A (the Hazardous Vegetation Abatement Ordinance, Ord. 6148) requires every improved parcel in the unincorporated county - and every unimproved parcel inside a State or Local Responsibility Area - to maintain 100 feet of defensible space around structures, plus 10 feet of clearance along roads and driveways. Annual inspections begin in late spring, with about 4,000 properties checked each year. Failure to comply triggers re-inspection fees, county-contracted abatement billed to the owner, and recordation of a lien against the property.
California Public Resources Code § 4291
(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 consider the flammability of the structure as affected by building material, building standards, location, and type of vegetation. Fuels shall be maintained and spaced ...
Outdoor burning of any vegetative waste in unincorporated Sonoma County requires two permits: an air-quality burn permit from the local air-pollution control district (Northern Sonoma County APCD in northern parts of the county; Bay Area AQMD in southern parts), and - if the parcel is in the State Responsibility Area - a free CAL FIRE burn permit during declared fire season. Permits are typically suspended from late spring through the first significant rains and during any Red Flag warning. Only natural dry vegetation grown on the property may be burned; household trash, painted wood, and treated lumber are always prohibited.
Sonoma County's Fire Safety Ordinance 6396 (codified at Chapter 13) treats both State Responsibility Area (SRA) parcels and all Local Responsibility Area parcels designated 'Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone' (VHFHSZ) on the 2025 CAL FIRE maps as Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI). New construction and substantial remodels in those areas must meet California Building Code Chapter 7A and California Residential Code Chapter 337 ignition-resistant standards - including Class A roofs, ember-resistant vents, non-combustible siding, dual-pane tempered windows, and ignition-resistant decking. The Tubbs (2017), Kincade (2019), and Glass/Walbridge (2020) fires triggered substantial tightening of these requirements.
California Office of the State Fire Marshal — Fire Hazard Severity Zones
The Fire Hazard Severity Zone (FHSZ) maps are developed using a science-based and field-tested model that assigns a hazard score based on the factors that influence fire likelihood and fire behavior. Many factors are considered such as fire history, existing and potential fuel (natural vegetation), predicted flame length, blowing embers, terrain, and typical fire weather for the area. There are...
1 cities in Sonoma County have their own fire regulations rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
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