Fire pit rules in Fresno, CA — also called outdoor burning, recreational fire, or open flame ordinances — cover fuel types, clearances, and when burning is allowed.
Backyard fire pits, fire rings, burn bowls and chimineas are legal in Fresno for cooking or recreation, but the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District (SJVAPCD) Rule 4901 prohibits operating any outdoor wood-burning device on declared 'Check Before You Burn' curtailment days from November 1 through February. Fresno is a Rule 4901 'hot spot' county with the strictest curtailment thresholds.
SJVAPCD Rule 4901 governs wood-burning fire pits in Fresno. Section 3.14 defines an 'Outdoor Wood Burning Device' to include burn bowls, fire rings/pits and chimineas located outside a building. Section 5.7 (Episodic Wood Burning Curtailment), in effect annually November through February, prohibits operating such a device whenever a Level One or Level Two curtailment is declared for the region. Because Fresno County is a designated PM2.5 hot spot (listed alongside Madera and the Valley portion of Kern), it faces lower curtailment trigger thresholds than other Valley counties. Rule 4901 also bans burning garbage, treated wood, non-seasoned wood, plastics and rubber in any fire pit (Section 5.6). Outside curtailment days, the Fresno Fire Department permits recreational fires using clean, dry wood or charcoal when attended and a safe distance from structures (see fire department SOP 202.006). Gas- or propane-fueled fire pits are not regulated by Rule 4901.
Operating a fire pit on a curtailment day is an air-district violation. Under California Health & Safety Code section 42403 the District may assess civil penalties up to $10,000 per violation per day; the first residential violation is typically resolved with a fine or a wood-smoke awareness course.
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