Inyo County, CA Fire Regulations: Fire Pit Rules (2026)

Inyo County's unincorporated lands fall within the Great Basin Unified Air Pollution Control District (GBUAPCD), which sets the air-quality rules for outdoor fires. GBUAPCD Rule 406 (Open Outdoor Fires) generally prohibits burning combustible refuse in open outdoor fires, but expressly exempts recreational and ceremonial fires contained in a fireplace, barbecue, or fire pit, and fires used only for cooking food. These recreational fires do not require a burn permit or a 'permissive burn day' the way refuse burning does, but the material burned must be clean wood, free of household, municipal, and industrial waste such as tires, tar, plastics, and wet wood. Because much of the Owens Valley desert and Eastern Sierra foothills are dry and wind-prone, the local fire protection agency (CAL FIRE San Bernardino-Inyo-Mono Unit on State Responsibility Area land, plus volunteer departments and fire protection districts) can declare seasonal fire restrictions that limit or suspend open recreational fires. On U.S. Forest Service and BLM land, a separate California Campfire Permit is required and may be suspended during fire restrictions. Always keep a fire pit a safe distance from structures and vegetation, attend it at all times, and have water and a shovel on hand.