Sutter County, CA Fire Regulations: Fire Pit Rules (2026)

No Sutter County-specific fire-pit ordinance was found in the county code; recreational and backyard fires are governed by the California Fire Code (adopted statewide) plus Feather River Air Quality Management District (FRAQMD) open-burning rules. Under California Fire Code Chapter 3, a 'recreational fire' (a small outdoor fire used for cooking, warmth, or similar purposes, not a fire in a manufactured appliance) must not be conducted within 25 feet of a structure or combustible material, and burning material must be kept to a manageable size. A 'portable outdoor fireplace' must be used per the manufacturer's instructions and not operated within 15 feet of a structure or combustible material, except when used at one- and two-family dwellings. A fire must always be attended by an adult with a means of extinguishment (water or extinguisher) ready. Importantly, burning yard waste or vegetation in a fire pit is treated as open burning by FRAQMD: only dry vegetative material grown on the property may be burned, only on a permitted burn day, and CAL FIRE burn permits are required during fire season. Clean, dry firewood for a true recreational warming/cooking fire is generally treated differently from disposal burning, but residents should confirm burn-day status before lighting any outdoor fire.