Alameda, CA Fire Regulations: Backyard Fires (2026)

A backyard fire in the City of Alameda is treated as a 'recreational fire' under the 2022 California Fire Code that the City adopted (Alameda Municipal Code Chapter XV, Section 15-1). A recreational fire is a small outdoor fire (generally no larger than 3 feet in diameter and 2 feet high) used for cooking, warmth, or similar purposes. Under California Fire Code Section 307.4, such fires must be kept at least 25 feet from any structure or combustible material (15 feet for a portable outdoor fireplace), and Section 307.5 requires the fire to be constantly attended until fully extinguished, with extinguishing equipment available. Crucially, backyard wood and charcoal fires are also subject to Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD) Regulation 6, Rule 3. During the winter Spare the Air season, when a Spare the Air Alert is issued, the use of fireplaces, wood stoves, pellet stoves, and outdoor fire pits is generally illegal for the full 24-hour alert period throughout the Bay Area, including Alameda. The 2025 amendments lowered the alert threshold, meaning alerts (and bans) are called more frequently. Cooking fires are not prohibited by the wood-burning rule, but the Air District recommends gas or propane over wood and charcoal. Neighbors can file wood-smoke complaints with BAAQMD.