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

Under the Calaveras County Air Pollution Control District (APCD) Open Burning Regulations, 'Recreational Activities' means the use of open outdoor fires for recreational purposes such as cooking food (Rule 300.O). Rule 308.2.F allows recreational fires only if the material burned is limited to charcoal, untreated wood, or cooking fuels; the fire is managed per Rule 305; and only approved ignition devices are used (Rule 300.E lists propane, butane, LPG, and similar devices that ignite without producing black smoke - tires, tar, and oil are not approved). This differs from disposal burning of yard debris, which is more tightly regulated. Beyond air-quality rules, CAL FIRE Tuolumne-Calaveras Unit (TCU) protects the unincorporated county. A California campfire permit is generally required to maintain an outdoor fire (including some fire pits) on private property outside an organized campground, and the fire must be kept clear of surrounding wildland fuels. During peak fire season CAL FIRE suspends outdoor burning; even when residential debris burning is suspended, that suspension does not by itself prohibit a properly maintained campfire/recreational cooking fire on private property if it is kept from spreading to wildland. Always keep water and a shovel on hand, never leave a fire unattended, and check current restrictions before lighting any fire in this high fire-hazard county.