Fire pit rules in Dublin, CA — also called outdoor burning, recreational fire, or open flame ordinances — cover fuel types, clearances, and when burning is allowed.
Dublin has adopted the California Fire Code (DMC Chapter 5.08), enforced by the Alameda County Fire Department. Under the state fire code, recreational fires in fire pits must be kept at least 25 feet from any structure or combustible material, and portable outdoor fireplaces (chimineas) at least 15 feet.
Dublin does not have a unique fire-pit ordinance; it adopts the California Fire Code by reference in Dublin Municipal Code Chapter 5.08, enforced locally by the Alameda County Fire Department. Under California Fire Code Section 307.4.2, recreational fires (small outdoor fires for pleasure, cooking, or warmth) "shall not be conducted within 25 feet (7620 mm) of a structure or combustible material," and conditions that could cause the fire to spread within that distance must be eliminated before lighting. A recreational fire is defined as having a total fuel area less than 3 feet across or less than 2 feet high; larger fires are treated as open burning or bonfires with greater setbacks. Portable outdoor fireplaces and chimineas are governed by Section 307.4.3, which requires use per the manufacturer's instructions and prohibits operation within 15 feet of a structure or combustible material. Gas and propane fire pits and bowls fall under the same recreational-fire framework. Separately, the Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD) bans wood-burning fires, including backyard fire pits and chimineas, on any day a Spare the Air alert is declared. Residents should keep an extinguishing source nearby and never leave a fire unattended.
Recreational fires that violate the fire code's clearance rules can be ordered extinguished by the Alameda County Fire Department. Burning during a BAAQMD Spare the Air wood-burning alert is a separate violation: BAAQMD's enforcement for wood-burning violations is a Notice of Violation and $100 fine for a first offense and a $500 fine for a second offense.
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.
See how other cities in Alameda County handle fire pit rules.
See how Dublin's fire pit rules rules stack up against other locations.
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