Backyard burning in unincorporated Contra Costa County is tightly limited: BAAQMD Regulation 5 prohibits burning yard waste, and recreational wood fires aren't among its allowed categories. The Fire Code lets officials declare hazardous fires a public nuisance, and suppression costs can be billed to the property owner.
The rules stack against backyard wood fires here. BAAQMD Regulation 5 bans burning yard waste outright, and its list of allowable fire categories doesn't include residential recreational fires — so a wood-burning fire pit has no clear legal footing. The Fire Code adds enforcement teeth: hazardous conditions can be declared a public nuisance (Sections 202 and 324), the Fire Code Official can order any fire extinguished, and repeat violations accrue as new offenses every 10 days. If a fire spreads, Health & Safety Code §13009 lets the district bill the owner for suppression costs. The safer path is a UL-listed propane or natural-gas appliance kept clear of combustible construction — charcoal itself carries a 10-foot setback under Section 4104.2.
Contact your local code enforcement office for specific penalty information.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
Concord, CA
Concord regulates removal of protected trees under Concord Municipal Code chapter 8.50 (Tree Preservation). Protected trees over 10 inches DBH require a perm...
Concord, CA
Concord water customers served by Contra Costa Water District must follow permanent statewide conservation rules: no runoff, no watering during or 48 hours a...
Concord, CA
Property owners must control noxious weeds identified by the Contra Costa County Agricultural Commissioner under California Food and Agriculture Code §5004. ...
Concord, CA
Xeriscaping and drought-tolerant landscaping are encouraged in Concord. State law prohibits HOAs from banning low-water landscaping, and MWELO mandates water...
Concord, CA
Concord requires grass and weeds to be maintained at 4 inches or less as part of annual weed abatement enforced by ConFire. Overgrown vegetation is declared ...
Concord, CA
In Concord, HOAs (Common Interest Developments) operate under the California Davis-Stirling Common Interest Development Act at Civil Code 4000-6150. City ord...
Side-by-side rule comparisons with other cities in Contra Costa County.
See how Concord's backyard fires rules stack up against other locations.
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.