Chino Hills, CA Fire Regulations: Fire Pits & Backyard Fires (2026)
Fire pit rules in Chino Hills, CA, also called outdoor burning, recreational fire, or open flame ordinances, cover fuel types, clearances, and when burning is allowed.
Key Facts
- Fuel type
- Non-wood burning only (propane/gas)
- Front setback
- Not permitted in front setback
- Rear/side setback
- 5 feet minimum to property line
- Maximum height
- 6 feet
- Enforcing agency
- Community Development Dept.; Fire District
- Max penalty
- $1,000 fine / 6 months jail (misdemeanor)
Summary
Chino Hills allows non-wood-burning outdoor fire pits under Municipal Code § 16.06.070, but bars them entirely from the required front setback and requires at least five feet of clearance from rear, interior side, and street side property lines, with a maximum height of six feet. Wood-burning pits do not qualify as a permitted fire pit at all.
"Fire pit" means any permanent or portable structure or appliance intended to contain fire, excluding a barbecue or pizza oven. Fire pits shall be non-wood burning. ... 16.06.070 - Features permitted within required setbacks. All required setback areas shall be open and unobstructed from finished grade to the sky, except that the following features are permitted within the setback areas subject to permissible projections into the setback and/or minimum distance to property lines as indicated in Tables 10-1(A), 10-1(B), and 10-1(C). Table 10-1(B) Minimum Distance to the Property Line for Residentially Zoned Properties. Feature / Front / Rear / Interior Side / Street Side / Maximum Height: Fireplace or Fire Pit (non-wood burning; outdoor; free-standing) / Not Permitted / 5'0" / 5'0" / 5'0" / 6'0".
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 61).
Full Breakdown
070: a free-standing outdoor fireplace or fire pit is not permitted in any front setback at all, and in the rear yard, an interior side yard, or a street side yard it needs a minimum of five feet of clearance to the property line. The unit cannot exceed six feet in height. These distances are measured the same way the code measures other yard features, from the structure itself to the property line, and Community Development staff check them during any patio, hardscape, or accessory-structure permit review.
3 lets the Chino Valley Independent Fire District's fire code official order a fire extinguished any time it creates or adds to a hazardous situation, or when a required open-burning permit was never obtained. A homeowner who burns wood in a pit, places one in a front yard, or ignores an extinguishment order can be cited under both the Development Code and the Fire Code at once.
Violations & Fines
A fire pit that violates the placement standards in Table 10-1(B) is a Development Code violation under § 16.02.110, punishable as a misdemeanor of up to $1,000 and six months in jail under § 1.36.020, or handled through an administrative citation under Chapter 1.18. Burning wood, igniting during a red-flag warning, or refusing a Fire District extinguishment order under CFC § 307.3 is separately enforced by the Chino Valley Independent Fire District.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I put a wood-burning fire pit in my Chino Hills backyard?
How far from my property line does a fire pit need to be?
When can the fire department order my fire pit put out?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Chino Hills
How Chino Hills compares: Cities with the Strictest Fire Pit Rules·California rules heatmap·Compare Chino Hills to another location·View the California fire regulations overview
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