Backyard recreational fires in Orange County are allowed in approved containers with a 25-foot structure setback. Charcoal and propane cooking fires are exempt from most restrictions but still subject to HOA rules.
Orange County follows NFPA 1 §10.11 governing open flames. Portable outdoor fireplaces, chimineas, and UL-listed fire pits using clean wood or manufactured logs are permitted for recreation provided they are kept 25 feet from any structure, fence, or overhanging vegetation (15 feet for fires under 2 feet in diameter). Cooking fires using charcoal or gas grills are permitted closer to structures but cannot be used on combustible balconies of multifamily buildings over two stories (NFPA 1 §10.11.7). All recreational fires must be continuously attended with a hose or fire extinguisher within reach. Complaints about smoke drift from backyard fires are common in denser neighborhoods like Conway, Azalea Park, and Union Park and may be abated as nuisance under County Code §9.
Unattended or oversized fires: $200-$500 code enforcement fine. Fires during burn bans: up to $500 plus Fire Rescue response cost. Damage to neighbor property: civil liability.
See how Orange County's backyard fires rules stack up against other locations.
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