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

There is no single Sierra County 'backyard fire' ordinance; instead two frameworks apply. For burning vegetation (pile burning of yard debris), the Northern Sierra Air Quality Management District permits only dry vegetation that originated on the property, only on a declared permissive burn day, with no garbage, treated wood, or burn barrels allowed. Residents must call the District burn-day line at (530) 274-7928 before lighting, and during fire season a free CAL FIRE residential burn permit is required (burnpermit.fire.ca.gov). For recreational fires (a fire pit, campfire, or cooking fire for warmth or food), the California Fire Code adopted in Sierra County Code Section 12.04.080 requires the fire to be small, kept clear of structures and combustible vegetation, constantly attended by an adult, and fully extinguished, with water or an extinguisher on hand. Because nearly all of unincorporated Sierra County is a State Responsibility Area in forested mountain terrain, CAL FIRE campfire-permit rules apply during fire season and open fires can be suspended entirely on high-fire-danger days or under state/federal fire restrictions. On National Forest lands within the county, the U.S. Forest Service sets its own campfire and stove rules. Always confirm current burn-day status and fire restrictions before any backyard fire.