Fire pit rules in Merced, CA — also called outdoor burning, recreational fire, or open flame ordinances — cover fuel types, clearances, and when burning is allowed.
Merced regulates backyard fire pits through its Fire Prevention Code (Municipal Code Chapter 17.32), which adopts the California Fire Code. Recreational fires must stay at least 25 feet from structures, be constantly attended, and never burn trash or yard waste. The San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District also calls no-burn days that limit wood fires.
The City of Merced adopts the California Fire Code through Merced Municipal Code Chapter 17.32, the 'Fire Prevention Code,' updated on the State's triennial cycle (the City adopted the 2025 edition via Ordinance 2583, effective January 1, 2026, following CAL FIRE / California Building Standards Commission code adoption). The California Fire Code Chapter 3 governs recreational fires. Under CFC Section 307.4.2, recreational fires shall not be conducted within 25 feet of a structure or combustible material, and conditions that could cause the fire to spread within 25 feet of a structure must be eliminated before lighting. Recreational fires must be constantly attended until fully extinguished, with a means of extinguishment - a garden hose, bucket of water, or fire extinguisher - available on site. Manufactured fire pits, chimineas, and gas or propane fire features are the simplest compliant options, and gas units avoid wood-smoke concerns. Open burning of trash, leaves, or yard waste is not a recreational fire and is separately prohibited (see Outdoor Burning). Because Merced sits in the San Joaquin Valley Air Basin, wood smoke is regulated by the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District (SJVAPCD), which issues daily burn declarations; wood-burning recreational fires are discouraged on no-burn days. The City of Merced Fire Department responds to unsafe-fire complaints.
A fire pit located too close to a structure, left unattended, or used to burn trash can be ordered extinguished by the City of Merced Fire Department under the adopted California Fire Code (Merced Municipal Code Chapter 17.32) and may be cited under the code's penalty provisions. Burning trash or yard waste additionally violates San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District open-burning rules. Repeated nuisance smoke can draw City code-enforcement action.
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