Merced County, CA Fire Regulations: Backyard Fires (2026)

Backyard recreational fires-such as a contained fire pit, chiminea, or cooking fire-are treated under the county fire-prevention code rather than a dedicated nuisance ordinance. Merced County Code Section 9.24.160 prohibits building or maintaining an outdoor fire, or burning brush, grass, or trash, without a permit from the county fire chief, but it exempts heating, cooking, and lighting appliances used within buildings, at 'dooryard premises' (the immediate yard around a dwelling), and at established campsites. A normal recreational fire in a residential backyard therefore generally does not require a permit, while burning yard waste or trash does. Section 9.24.200 requires that any outdoor fire be attended by an adult and thoroughly extinguished-by covering with dirt, saturating with water, or another effective method-before the person leaves the area. The county has adopted the 2022 California Fire Code (Section 9.24.010), which sets safety standards for recreational fires, including keeping them a safe distance from structures and combustibles and having a means of extinguishment on hand. Because Merced County sits in the San Joaquin Valley air basin, what you burn also matters: the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District restricts residential burning, so only clean, dry, untreated firewood should be used-never trash, leaves, or treated lumber. During high-fire-danger periods the fire department may impose additional restrictions.