Santa Rosa, CA Fire Regulations: Backyard Fires (2026)

Backyard burning in Santa Rosa is governed primarily by the City's adopted California Fire Code (City Code Chapter 18-44) and the City's Short-Term Rental Ordinance (ORD-2021-011). The City has made clear that 'it is unlawful to burn or cause to be burned within the city any solid waste, recyclable materials, household hazardous wastes or other hazardous wastes, garbage, debris, or other wastes, including the burning of any prohibited material, such as household trash, in a residential fireplace or backyard burn barrel.' Recreational fires (those used for personal cooking or warmth, ≤ 3 feet diameter and ≤ 2 feet tall under CFC § 307 definitions) are regulated by the adopted California Fire Code, which requires a minimum 25-foot clearance from any structure or combustible material for portable outdoor fireplaces/recreational fires, an attendant present at all times, and an extinguishing means readily available. Approximately 30% of Santa Rosa lies within the Wildland-Urban Interface Fire Area, where Fire Department discretion to restrict or prohibit recreational fires during fire weather is broad under CFC Section 307.1 and the Fire Chief's emergency-abatement authority (City Code § 9-08.120). For non-hosted short-term rentals, the Short-Term Rental Ordinance restricts all outdoor burning to gas-fueled fire pits, fireplaces, barbecues/grills, and heaters using a single five-gallon LPG cylinder or natural gas — and these must be sited at least 10 feet from combustible vegetation and overhanging tree limbs.