Recreational backyard fires in Livermore must be under 3 ft diameter, 15 ft from structures, attended at all times, and paused on Spare the Air days.
Livermore permits recreational backyard fires in approved containers (metal fire pits, chimineas, masonry pits) subject to California Fire Code §307.4. Fires must burn only seasoned wood or manufactured logs — no leaves, pine needles, trash, treated wood, or construction debris. A responsible adult must be present at all times with a water hose or extinguisher, and fires must be fully extinguished before bedtime. BAAQMD Spare the Air alerts (Nov-Feb) prohibit all wood burning. In VHFHSZ foothill areas, red flag warnings from LPFD may ban all open flame.
Citations $100-$500; liability for runaway fires includes LPFD suppression cost recovery under Health & Safety Code §13009.
See how other cities in Alameda County handle backyard fires.
See how Livermore's backyard fires rules stack up against other locations.
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