Sonoma County, CA Fire Regulations: Fire Pit Rules (2026)

Unincorporated Sonoma County adopts the California Fire Code through Chapter 13 of the Sonoma County Code, the Sonoma County Fire Safety Ordinance (most recently re-adopted by Ordinance No. 6396 with the 2022 California Fire Code, effective January 1, 2023). The California Fire Code's recreational-fire provisions set the baseline for backyard fire pits, including limits on fuel area and required clearance and supervision; local fire districts within the County may add conditions.

For any fire pit used to burn natural vegetation (yard debris), Permit Sonoma's open-burning rules apply: an adult must attend the fire at all times, you must 'clear a 10 foot diameter down to bare soil' around the burn, keep a shovel and water source nearby, and never burn on windy days. Only 'dry, natural vegetative material such as leaves, pine needles and tree trimmings may be burned' - never trash, painted wood, or debris.

Air quality adds another layer. The southern portion of the County is in the Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD), where wood burning may be banned on Winter Spare the Air Alert days under Regulation 6, Rule 3; the northern portion is regulated by the Northern Sonoma County Air Pollution Control District. Clean-fuel fire features such as propane or natural-gas fire pits are not subject to the wood-smoke ban. Always confirm it is a permissive burn day before lighting a wood fire.