Small recreational backyard fires for cooking or warmth are allowed under California Fire Code § 307 as adopted by Kern County, but any burning of vegetation, debris, or trash requires a burn permit and an air-district 'permissive' day.
In unincorporated Kern County, a backyard fire falls into two distinct regulatory tracks. (1) Recreational fires—seasoned wood for cooking, warmth, or social purposes in a fire pit or portable outdoor fireplace—are allowed without a burn permit under California Fire Code § 307.4.2 (adopted by Kern County Code Ch. 17.32), subject to a 3-foot fuel area, 2-foot height, 25-foot structure setback, constant adult attendance, and on-site extinguishment means. (2) Burning of yard debris, weeds, or vegetation is 'open burning' that requires a Kern County Fire Department / APCD burn permit, may only occur during the announced burn season on permissive days, and is suspended during Red Flag warnings. Burning of trash, garbage, plastics, treated wood, or construction debris is prohibited statewide under California Health & Safety Code § 41700 (public nuisance smoke) and under EKAPCD/SJVAPCD rules; no permit can authorize it. Kern County's Wildland-Urban Interface areas (Lake Isabella, Kern River Valley, Frazier Park, Tehachapi) are subject to heightened restrictions and seasonal bans imposed by the Fire Chief under CFC § 307.1.1. Properties in State Responsibility Areas must also maintain 100 feet of defensible space under PRC § 4291 and Kern County Code Chapter 8.46 (Weeds and Other Hazardous Growths).
Recreational-fire infractions can result in extinguishment orders and Fire Code citations under Kern County Code § 17.32. Unpermitted open burning of vegetation triggers KCFD enforcement and APCD air-quality fines. Burning prohibited materials (trash, plastics, treated wood) violates state law and county Fire Code, with escalating fines. If any backyard fire escapes, the responsible party is liable for suppression costs and damages under CA Health & Safety Code §§ 13007 and 13009 and may face misdemeanor charges.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
Ridgecrest, CA
Aircraft noise in Ridgecrest is regulated by the FAA and the adjacent Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake (NAWS). Local ordinances do not govern military or...
Ridgecrest, CA
Ridgecrest prohibits unnecessary noise that disturbs residents under its municipal code. Quiet hours are generally enforced from 10 PM to 7 AM in residential...
Ridgecrest, CA
Persistent barking that constitutes a nuisance is prohibited under the Ridgecrest Municipal Code. Ridgecrest Animal Control responds to barking dog complaints.
Ridgecrest, CA
Construction noise in Ridgecrest is restricted to daytime weekday and Saturday hours under the RMC. No construction is permitted on Sundays without special a...
Ridgecrest, CA
Ridgecrest regulates street parking under Chapter 15 (Traffic and Vehicles) of the RMC. Certain streets have time-restricted or prohibited parking zones.
Ridgecrest, CA
Large commercial vehicles parked in residential zones in Ridgecrest are subject to RMC zoning and traffic regulations.
Side-by-side rule comparisons with other cities in Kern County.
See how Ridgecrest'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.