Bellflower, CA Fire Regulations: Backyard Fires (2026)

Backyard fires in Bellflower are governed by the California Fire Code, adopted through Municipal Code Chapter 15.40 and enforced by LA County Fire. Under the Los Angeles County Fire Code (Title 32, Section 307), open outdoor fires are prohibited as a default, but cooking, recreational and ceremonial fires on private property are permitted when the fire area does not exceed nine square feet and the site is outside hazardous fire areas. That allows a typical backyard fire pit, chiminea, fire ring or barbecue used for warmth or cooking, provided it is attended, contained, and a safe distance from fences, structures, eaves and other combustibles. Bellflower is a flat, dense urban city with no Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone, so the stricter wildland fire prohibitions that apply in foothill communities are not in play, but lot sizes are small and homes are close together, so clearance and smoke control matter. Manufactured gas or propane appliances are encouraged because they generate far less smoke. Backyard fires may not be used to burn refuse, leaves or yard waste - that is treated as prohibited open burning under both the Fire Code and South Coast AQMD rules. Persistent heavy smoke drifting onto neighboring properties can also be addressed as a public nuisance under Bellflower Municipal Code Chapter 8.36.