8 rules for unincorporated Yuba County, California.
Verified from official government sources
Yuba County has adopted the State-required building and fire codes. Under California Fire Code section 307.4, a recreational fire must be at least 25 feet from any structure or combustible material, while a portable outdoor fireplace must be at least 15 feet away. Fires must be constantly attended, and smoke is regulated by the Feather River Air Quality Management District.
In unincorporated Yuba County, state-approved 'Safe and Sane' fireworks remain legal. A 2021 urgency ordinance that would have raised the purchase age to 21 and banned all fireworks on red-flag days failed to get the required four-fifths Board vote. 'Dangerous' fireworks are illegal everywhere under California Health & Safety Code section 12500 et seq.
Properties in the foothill State Responsibility Area must maintain 100 feet of defensible space under California Public Resources Code section 4291, inspected by CAL FIRE Nevada-Yuba-Placer Unit. The zones are a 0-5 foot ember-resistant zone, a 5-30 foot 'lean, clean and green' zone, and a 30-100 foot reduced-fuel zone (grass mowed to about 4 inches). Overgrown weeds are also a county nuisance.
Open burning in unincorporated Yuba County is regulated by the Feather River Air Quality Management District under Regulation II. On the valley floor, residential burn days are Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday on a declared burn day, and only dry plant material grown on your property may be burned. Burn barrels, paper, cardboard, and trash are illegal. Foothill CAL FIRE areas also need a CAL FIRE permit.
Eastern Yuba County is foothill State Responsibility Area with High and Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones - the area struck by the 2020 Bear Fire/North Complex. Properties in these zones must maintain 100 feet of defensible space (PRC section 4291) and, for new construction, meet Wildland-Urban Interface building standards (California Building Code Chapter 7A). The county maintains a Foothills Community Wildfire Protection Plan.
Yuba County follows statewide California rules: every single-family home sold must have State Fire Marshal-approved smoke alarms (Health & Safety Code section 13113.8), and dwellings with a fuel-burning appliance, fireplace, or attached garage need a carbon monoxide alarm. The adopted California Building and Fire Codes require smoke alarms in all sleeping rooms, adjacent hallways, and on each level.
A small backyard recreational fire (cooking or warmth) is allowed under California Fire Code section 307.4 if kept at least 25 feet from structures, constantly attended, and extinguished after use. Burning yard waste or trash is different - that is 'open burning' regulated by the Feather River AQMD and is allowed only on declared valley burn days, with a CAL FIRE permit additionally required in foothill fire-season areas.
Propane (LP-gas) storage in unincorporated Yuba County follows the California Fire Code Chapter 61 and NFPA 58, which the county has adopted. Container separation distances increase with tank size - a 125-500 gallon tank must be at least 10 feet from buildings and the property line, and a 501-2,000 gallon tank at least 25 feet. Foothill defensible space rules also require vegetation cleared around tanks.
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