Small backyard recreational fires (warming, cooking, ceremony) do not need an air-district or CAL FIRE permit, but state law requires 100 feet of defensible space around every structure and prohibits unattended fires that create a hazard.
NCUAQMD does not require a burn permit for small recreational or ceremonial campfires, and CAL FIRE's residential burn permit also exempts small contained cooking and warming fires. However, California Public Resources Code 4291 requires owners of any building in a State Responsibility Area (which covers most unincorporated Humboldt County) to maintain 100 feet of defensible space around the structure, including an ember-resistant zone in the first 5 feet, lean fuel reduction from 5-30 feet (Zone 1), and reduced fuel from 30-100 feet (Zone 2). Backyard fires must be sited so they are inside the cleared defensible-space area, never under overhanging branches, and never within 10 feet of a chimney or stovepipe outlet. Leaving any fire unattended or causing a hazard is independently unlawful under Humboldt County Code 271-7 (parks) and under California penal and resource codes when the fire escapes.
Failure to maintain PRC 4291 defensible space is prosecutable by CAL FIRE and can trigger inspection notices, citation, and forced abatement at the owner's expense (lien). Allowing a backyard fire to escape exposes the responsible party to full liability for suppression costs plus misdemeanor charges under PRC 4421 and 4422.
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See how Humboldt County's backyard fires rules stack up against other locations.
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