Fire pit rules in Placer County, CA — also called outdoor burning, recreational fire, or open flame ordinances — cover fuel types, clearances, and when burning is allowed.
Recreational fires in fire pits, fire bowls, and similar free-standing devices are treated as non-agricultural burning by the Placer County Air Pollution Control District (APCD). Only dry vegetation, firewood, firelogs, and clean, unpainted, untreated lumber may be burned, and fires may not be used for waste disposal.
The Placer County APCD classifies open recreational fires — campfires, bonfires, and fires in fire pits, fire bowls, and similar free-standing devices — as non-agricultural burning. Permitted fuels are limited to dry vegetation, firewood, firelogs, and clean, unpainted, untreated lumber; a recreational or cooking fire may not be used to dispose of waste. Fires must be conducted so the smoke does not create a nuisance, and burning wet material or large quantities is discouraged. Beyond air-quality rules, a CAL FIRE / local fire-agency campfire permit is generally required in State Responsibility Area land and can be obtained at fire stations or online at PreventWildfireCA.org; permits may be suspended during fire season. The county and CAL FIRE advise keeping recreational fires small, attended, away from overhanging vegetation, and with water and a shovel on hand. Use of a manufactured fire pit does not exempt the user from defensible-space maintenance or from any burn-day and red-flag restrictions that apply in the area.
Conducting open burning that creates a smoke nuisance, or burning prohibited materials, can result in APCD enforcement. Recreational fires that escape or are left unattended may also draw fire-agency citations and liability for suppression costs under state law.
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