Yolo County, CA Fire Regulations: Backyard Fires (2026)

There is no separate Yolo County ordinance singling out 'backyard fires'; they are governed by the recreational-fire provisions of the California Fire Code (adopted by Yolo County Code Section 7-1.02), by the open-burning rules of the Yolo-Solano Air Quality Management District, and (in the State Responsibility Area) by Cal Fire under California Public Resources Code Section 4423. A backyard recreational fire that meets CFC Section 307.4.2 - fuel pile no larger than 3 feet in diameter and 2 feet high, located at least 25 feet from structures or combustible material, used only for pleasure, cooking, warmth, or similar purposes - does not require an air-district burn-day declaration. Burning any vegetative yard debris in a backyard pile, however, is a 'rural yard burn' subject to YSAQMD authorization (only on declared burn days, with prior local-fire-district authorization, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. window, max 4 ft x 6 ft pile, 50 ft from property lines and structures, 15 ft from combustibles, dry vegetation only). Burning trash, lumber, plywood, treated wood, plastic, pallets, furniture, or construction materials is never permitted. Under CFC Section 308.1.4, the fire code official may order any open flame extinguished when it constitutes a hazard. Cal Fire issues seasonal burn suspensions that override permitted burning in the SRA across western Yolo County.