Riverside County, CA Fire Regulations: Fire Pits & Backyard Fires (2026)
Fire pit rules in Riverside County, CA, also called outdoor burning, recreational fire, or open flame ordinances, cover fuel types, clearances, and when burning is allowed.
Key Facts
- Governing section
- Code § 5.84.080(M)
- Applies to
- registered short-term rentals only
- Surface required
- non-combustible
- Curfew
- extinguish by 10 p.m.
- First-violation fine
- $1,500
Summary
Riverside County requires outdoor fire pits and fire areas at short-term rentals to sit on a non-combustible surface, comply with any active burn ban, and be extinguished by 10 p.m. or right after use.
Outdoor fire areas shall be permissible only when not otherwise prohibited by state or local fire bans, regulations, rules, or guidelines. When legally permissible, outdoor fire areas shall be located on a non-combustible surface and extinguished as soon as it is no longer in use or by 10:00 p.m., whichever is earlier.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 84 Update 1).
Full Breakdown
Riverside County's short-term rental ordinance folds fire pits into its outdoor fire area rule at Code Section 5.84.080(M): outdoor fire areas at STRs are permissible only when no state or county fire ban is in effect, must be located on a non-combustible surface, and must be extinguished as soon as they're not in use or by 10:00 p.m., whichever comes first. The rule sits inside Chapter 5.84, which governs short-term rentals in the unincorporated county only. Riverside, Temecula, Palm Springs, Palm Desert and the county's other 24 incorporated cities enforce their own separate STR and fire-safety codes. Owner-occupied, non-rental homes are not covered by this section.
Violations & Fines
Fire-area violations fall under the STR chapter's administrative citation schedule: $1,500 for a first offense, $3,000 for a repeat within one year, and $5,000 for each additional violation, enforced by Riverside County Code Enforcement under Ordinance No. 725.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does this rule apply to all Riverside County homes?
Can a fire pit be used during a burn ban?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Riverside County
How Riverside County compares: Cities with the Strictest Fire Pit Rules·California rules heatmap·Compare Riverside County to another location·View the California fire regulations overview
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