Lake Elsinore, CA Fire Regulations: Fire Pits & Backyard Fires (2026)

Section 8.20.020(B) confines campfires in Lake Elsinore to stoves and fire rings, and only on property that is both zoned for recreational use and licensed for that purpose, such as a campground; the stove or fire ring's location must additionally be approved by the Chief of the Fire Department or an authorized agent. That recreational campfire allowance is distinct from the residential cooking exception in § 8.20.020(C), which covers small outdoor fires and barbecues used to cook food on residentially zoned and used property; a fire ring set up on an ordinary residential lot outside that cooking exception is not covered by subsection (B), since the site is not zoned and licensed for recreational purposes.

Outside both exceptions, any other open fire, including a pit barbecue used for something other than cooking, needs a fire permit under § 8.20.020(A), issued individually for each fire by the Fire Chief under § 8.20.030, who sets the burn time and any safety conditions. The Fire Chief may order any fire, campfires included, extinguished under § 8.20.050 whenever necessary to prevent danger to people or property or the spread of the fire, and separately inspects incinerators under § 8.20.040.