Ontario backyard fires are limited to small wood fires in approved pits or gas appliances. Burning of leaves, trash, or debris is banned under SCAQMD Rule 444 and the adopted California Fire Code.
Ontario residents may host small recreational backyard fires only in approved portable outdoor fireplaces, chimineas, or built-in masonry fire pits burning clean seasoned cordwood, or in natural gas and propane fire features. California Fire Code Section 307 and Ontario Municipal Code Title 4 require wood fires to be located at least 25 feet from any structure, fence, or combustible vegetation, attended at all times by a responsible adult, and extinguished before the last person leaves. Fuel piles must be less than three feet in diameter and two feet in height. Garbage, leaves, plastics, tires, pressure-treated lumber, and construction debris cannot be burned. South Coast Air Quality Management District no-burn days suspend wood fires citywide. Heavy smoke drifting onto neighboring property is a public nuisance and can be ordered extinguished. Gas-fueled outdoor heaters and pizza ovens are treated as appliances rather than open burning and have no setback triggered by the fuel alone.
Ontario Fire may order extinguishment and issue an administrative citation starting near 100 dollars. Repeat or reckless fires can escalate to misdemeanor charges and civil liability if sparks cause property damage.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
Ontario, CA
Outdoor music is regulated under OMC Title 5 Chapter 29 and the special-event permit process. Venues and events with amplified sound need a city permit; resi...
Ontario, CA
Aircraft noise from Ontario International Airport (ONT) is regulated by the FAA, not the city. ONT runs an FAA Part 150 noise compatibility program; federal ...
Ontario, CA
Ontario requires a building permit for masonry walls and any fence over 7 feet under the California Building Code. Retaining walls over 4 feet also require p...
Ontario, CA
Ontario fence requirements include zoning-based heights, setbacks, sight triangles, buffer walls on industrial edges, and CBC structural standards. Pool, ret...
Ontario, CA
Ontario limits residential fence heights under the Development Code. Typical maximums are 6 feet rear/side, 3 feet front, and 42 inches in sight-distance tri...
Ontario, CA
Ontario requires dogs to be leashed off-property under OMC Title 6. Maximum leash length is 6 feet, with owner control required in all public spaces except d...
Side-by-side rule comparisons with other cities in San Bernardino County.
See how other cities in San Bernardino County handle backyard fires.
See how Ontario'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.