Fire pit rules in Kings County, CA — also called outdoor burning, recreational fire, or open flame ordinances — cover fuel types, clearances, and when burning is allowed.
Unincorporated Kings County has adopted the 2019 California Fire Code, which allows recreational fires and portable outdoor fireplaces with setbacks from structures. Any open fire must be attended and fully extinguished before leaving. On no-burn days, the San Joaquin Valley Air District also restricts outdoor wood-burning devices.
Kings County Code Section 10-1 adopts the 2019 California Fire Code (Title 24, Part 9 CCR) for the unincorporated area as the 'Fire Code of Kings County.' Under California Fire Code Section 307.4.2, recreational fires must be kept at least 25 feet from a structure or combustible material, and a 'recreational fire' is defined as an outdoor fire burning materials other than rubbish where the fuel area is not more than 3 feet in diameter and 2 feet in height. Section 307.4.3 requires portable outdoor fireplaces (commercially manufactured fire bowls and chimineas) to be used at least 15 feet from a structure or combustible material, with an exception for one- and two-family dwellings. Kings County Code Section 10-6 makes it unlawful to leave any fire unattended; before leaving, the person in charge must thoroughly extinguish it by covering with dirt, saturating with water, or otherwise preventing rekindling. Because Kings County is in the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District, outdoor wood-burning devices (including fire pits using wood or pellets) are also subject to District Rule 4901 'Check Before You Burn' curtailments from November 1 through the end of February. Natural gas and propane fire pits are not subject to the wood-burning curtailment rule.
Open fires left unattended violate Kings County Code Section 10-6 and can be cited by the county fire chief. Section 10-5 confirms that holding any permit does not relieve a person of civil or criminal liability for an escaped fire. Recreational fires that violate California Fire Code Section 307 setbacks may be ordered extinguished by the fire code official. Using a wood-burning fire pit on a declared no-burn day violates SJVAPCD Rule 4901, which carries air-district penalties. A person whose fire escapes and requires suppression may be billed for firefighting costs under California Health & Safety Code Section 13009.
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