Madera, CA Fire Regulations: Fire Pit Rules (2026)

Madera County does not write its own backyard fire pit chapter; instead it adopts the California Fire Code, including amendments, in county code Title 14 (Building and Construction), Division II Fire Prevention, Chapter 14.35 (Fire Code Adoption). The California Fire Code, Section 307, governs recreational fires and portable outdoor fireplaces. A recreational fire (a wood or charcoal fire used for cooking, warmth or similar, not for waste disposal) must not be conducted within 25 feet of a structure or combustible material, and conditions that could let the fire spread within that distance must be cleared before ignition. Portable outdoor fireplaces (chimineas, store-bought fire features) must not be operated within 15 feet of a structure or combustible material, except when used at one- and two-family dwellings. Larger bonfires must be at least 50 feet from structures unless contained in a barbecue pit. Any open burning or recreational fire must be constantly attended until fully extinguished, with a fire extinguisher (minimum 4-A rating) or comparable means of control immediately available. In the foothill and mountain State Responsibility Area, additional CAL FIRE restrictions and seasonal burn suspensions apply, and a fire that escapes can expose the responsible party to suppression-cost liability. Always check current fire-restriction status before lighting any outdoor fire.