Santa Barbara County, CA Fire Regulations: Fire Pit Rules (2026)

Santa Barbara County addresses outdoor combustion under several overlapping authorities. (1) California Fire Code Section 307 (Open Burning, Recreational Fires, and Portable Outdoor Fireplaces), as adopted and locally amended through County Code Chapter 15, regulates the size, location, and operation of recreational fires. A 'recreational fire' is defined as an outdoor fire burning materials other than rubbish where the fuel is not contained in a barbecue, grill, or barbecue pit and has a total fuel area of 3 feet or less in diameter and 2 feet or less in height for pleasure, religious, ceremonial, cooking, warmth, or similar purposes. Recreational fires must be located not less than 25 feet from any structure or combustible material; portable outdoor fireplaces must be located not less than 15 feet from any structure or combustible material; and either must be constantly attended by a competent person with extinguishing equipment (a garden hose connected to a water supply, a portable fire extinguisher, dirt, or a bucket of water) until the fire is extinguished. (2) Santa Barbara County's locally amended Fire Code adds the County-specific 30-foot rule: 'Permanent barbeques, outdoor fireplaces, portable barbeques and grills must be a minimum of 30 feet from grass, grain, brush or forested areas, maintained in good repair and in a safe condition at all times. Openings in such appliances must be provided with an approved spark arrester, screen, or door.' (3) Ashes and coals from recreational fires may NOT be placed, deposited, or dumped in High Fire Hazard Areas, with one exception for ashes placed in the hearth of an established fire pit, camp stove, or fireplace. (4) Open burning of vegetative debris (yard waste, brush, agricultural prunings) requires a Santa Barbara County Fire Department burn permit AND, separately, compliance with Santa Barbara County Air Pollution Control District (SBCAPCD) Rule 401 (Agricultural Burning) or Rule 402 (Open Burning), depending on the use. The SBCAPCD posts a daily 'Burn Day / No Burn Day' status each morning at (805) 961-8801 and online at ourair.org; even with a Fire permit, no burning is allowed on a 'No Burn Day' or on a CAL FIRE 'No Burn Day' during the declared fire season. Backyard residential refuse burning is generally PROHIBITED. (5) During Red Flag Warning conditions (issued by the National Weather Service) and during 'High' or 'Extreme' Fire Danger as declared by CAL FIRE or Santa Barbara County Fire, ALL open burning including recreational fires is suspended; only fully enclosed propane- or natural-gas-fueled outdoor appliances are typically allowed. (6) Smoking outdoors and discarding of cigarettes is also restricted under California Public Resources Code Section 4256 in SRAs.