Fire pit rules in Berkeley, CA — also called outdoor burning, recreational fire, or open flame ordinances — cover fuel types, clearances, and when burning is allowed.
Berkeley bans virtually all open flame and wood-burning fire pits outdoors due to BAAQMD Regulation 6 and Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone (VHFHSZ) restrictions. Only fully enclosed gas appliances are tolerated.
The City of Berkeley enforces some of the strictest open-flame rules in California. Under Berkeley Municipal Code (BMC) Chapter 9.24 and the adopted California Fire Code, open burning and recreational wood fires are prohibited in residential yards citywide. In the Berkeley Hills VHFHSZ (designated after the 1991 Oakland Hills Firestorm that killed 25 people), no open flame fire pit, chiminea, or wood-burning device is permitted outdoors. Even in the flats, BAAQMD Regulation 6, Rule 3 bans wood burning on Spare the Air days, and residential wood smoke is treated as a nuisance. Propane or natural gas patio heaters and enclosed gas fireplaces are generally allowed if UL-listed, kept 10 feet from structures and vegetation, and never used during Red Flag Warnings. The Berkeley Fire Department (BFD) Fire Prevention Bureau at (510) 981-2489 issues guidance and can impose fines.
Contact your local code enforcement office for specific penalty information.
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Side-by-side rule comparisons with other cities in Alameda County.
See how other cities in Alameda County handle fire pit rules.
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