Fire pit rules in Alameda, CA — also called outdoor burning, recreational fire, or open flame ordinances — cover fuel types, clearances, and when burning is allowed.
Alameda has no special citywide fire-pit ordinance beyond the California Fire Code, which the City adopted as its 2022 edition. Recreational fires must stay at least 25 feet from any structure or combustible material, be constantly attended until out, and have on-site extinguishing equipment ready.
The City of Alameda adopted the 2022 California Fire Code by ordinance in its Municipal Code Chapter XV (Fire Prevention), Section 15-1, enforced by the Alameda Fire Department's Fire Prevention Bureau. The Fire Code governs backyard fire pits as 'recreational fires.' Under California Fire Code Section 307.4, recreational fires shall not be conducted within 25 feet of a structure or combustible material, and portable outdoor fireplaces shall not be operated within 15 feet of a structure or combustible material per the manufacturer's instructions. A recreational fire under the Fire Code is a small outdoor fire (generally no larger than 3 feet in diameter and 2 feet high) burning materials other than rubbish, used for cooking, warmth, or similar purposes. Section 307.5 requires that open burning, recreational fires, and portable outdoor fireplaces be constantly attended until the fire is fully extinguished, with a fire extinguisher (minimum 4-A rating) or other approved on-site equipment such as a garden hose, dirt, sand, or a water barrel available for immediate use. Note that Bay Area Air Quality Management District wood-burning rules can override these on Winter Spare the Air Alert days, when burning wood in an outdoor fire pit is generally banned regardless of distance.
Operating a fire pit too close to structures, leaving it unattended, or burning during a Spare the Air Alert can result in enforcement by the Alameda Fire Department and abatement orders. Fire Code violations are enforced as nuisances; BAAQMD wood-smoke violations carry their own fines (warning for a first offense, then citations).
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
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Side-by-side rule comparisons with other cities in Alameda County.
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