Yolo County, CA Fire Regulations: Fire Pits & Backyard Fires (2026)
Fire pit rules in Yolo County, CA, also called outdoor burning, recreational fire, or open flame ordinances, cover fuel types, clearances, and when burning is allowed.
Key Facts
- Recreational fire setback
- 25 ft from combustibles (CFC 307.4.2)
- Portable fireplace setback
- 15 ft (CFC 307.4.3)
- Max recreational fuel pile
- 3 ft diameter x 2 ft high
- Adopting code section
- Yolo County Code Sec. 7-1.02
- Order-to-extinguish authority
- CFC Section 308.1.4
- Suppression-cost liability
- HSC Section 13009
Summary
Yolo County Code Section 7-1.02 adopts the California Fire Code by reference, including Section 307 governing open burning and recreational fires. Under California Fire Code Section 307.4.2, a recreational fire (fuel pile no larger than 3 feet in diameter and 2 feet high) must be located at least 25 feet from any structure or combustible material; portable outdoor fireplaces must be at least 15 feet away under Section 307.4.3. The fire code official may order any open flame extinguished when it becomes a hazard.
Section 7-1.11 contains amendments to the California Fire Code, with the California Fire Code being amended by the changes, additions, and deletions set forth in that chapter. The amendments include modifications to the applicability and conflict resolution sections, specifying that where conflicts occur between the fire code and referenced codes, the provisions of Yolo County's code shall apply, and when conflicts occur with CBC Chapter 1 provisions, whichever has greater specificity shall apply.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-21: Supplement 2026 S-21 includes: Local legislation current through Ord. 1584, effective June 25, 2026).
Full Breakdown
11. 2 requires recreational fires to be at least 25 feet from any structure or combustible material. 3 requires portable outdoor fireplaces (chimineas and similar) to be used only in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions and not be operated within 15 feet of a structure or combustible material. 4 authorizes the fire code official to order any open flame to be extinguished when it constitutes a hazard. Recreational fires using only dry seasoned firewood for warmth, cooking, or pleasure do not require a YSAQMD burn-day declaration, but they remain subject to fire-code-official authority to extinguish, and Cal Fire may impose blanket bans on open flames during Red Flag warnings in the State Responsibility Area (western Yolo County including the Capay Valley).
Violations & Fines
Violation of the adopted California Fire Code is enforceable through the County's nuisance-abatement and code-enforcement provisions. Under the default California Fire Code Section 110.4, a violation is a misdemeanor punishable by up to a $1,000 fine, up to six months in county jail, or both, with each day of continued violation a separate offense. The fire code official has independent authority under CFC Section 308.1.4 to order any open flame extinguished. Under California Health & Safety Code Section 13009, anyone whose negligent or unlawful fire requires suppression is liable for the full cost of fighting it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I have a backyard fire pit on my property in unincorporated Yolo County?
Do I need a permit for a propane or natural-gas fire pit?
Are fire pits allowed during a Cal Fire burn ban or Red Flag warning?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Yolo County
How Yolo County compares: Cities with the Strictest Fire Pit Rules·California rules heatmap·Compare Yolo County to another location·View the California fire regulations overview
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