Dublin, CA Fire Regulations: Backyard Fires (2026)

Dublin permits small recreational backyard fires under the California Fire Code it has adopted (DMC Chapter 5.08), enforced by the Alameda County Fire Department. A "recreational fire" is an outdoor fire for pleasure, cooking, or warmth with a total fuel area less than 3 feet in width, length, or diameter and less than 2 feet in height; it must not be in an incinerator, barbecue pit, or portable fireplace. Under California Fire Code Section 307.4.2, recreational fires cannot be conducted within 25 feet of a structure or combustible material, and hazards that could spread the fire within 25 feet must be removed before lighting. Larger open fires and bonfires require greater setbacks (open burning is located not less than 50 feet from structures under Section 307.4). Backyard fires must burn only clean, dry wood or approved fuel, not yard waste, trash, or construction debris; burning those materials is prohibited open burning under BAAQMD Regulation 5. On any day the air district declares a Spare the Air wood-burning alert, wood-burning fires, including fire pits and chimineas, are banned. Gas and propane devices are generally exempt from the wood-burning alert. Residents should keep fires attended, have a hose or extinguisher ready, and avoid burning during windy conditions.