Modesto, CA Fire Regulations: Fire Pits & Backyard Fires (2026)
Fire pit rules in Modesto, CA, also called outdoor burning, recreational fire, or open flame ordinances, cover fuel types, clearances, and when burning is allowed.
Key Facts
- Code Section
- Modesto Municipal Code § 3-1.206 (amending CFC §§ 307.4.2, 307.4.3, 307.5; deleting § 307.4.1)
- Wood fire pits
- Prohibited
- Chimineas (wood-burning)
- Prohibited
- Propane/gas patio heaters
- Allowed subject to other city codes
- Attendance required
- Constant until fully extinguished
- Extinguisher required
- 4A rating + water/dirt source
Summary
Modesto bans backyard recreational fires outright (wood fire pits, chimineas, bonfires). Portable outdoor fireplaces (gas/propane appliances) are not categorically banned but remain subject to other city codes, and any fire that is allowed must be constantly attended with an extinguisher on hand.
Attendance. Open burning or use of portable outdoor fire places as used at one- and two-family dwellings shall be constantly attended until the fire extinguished. Not fewer than one portable fire extinguisher complying with section 906 with a 4A minimum rating and a water hose, water truck or medium of dirt/sand shall be immediately available.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 71).
Full Breakdown
Three local amendments combine to ban almost all backyard fires in Modesto. Modesto Municipal Code § 3-1.206 (i) amends CFC § 307.4.2 to prohibit recreational fires (the category that covers backyard fire pits, chimineas, and similar wood-burning appliances), with a narrow exception only for permitted religious ceremonies; (ii) deletes CFC § 307.4.1 entirely (the bonfire allowance); and (iii) amends CFC § 307.4.3 so that portable outdoor fireplaces (typically propane/gas patio appliances) must still comply with any other applicable city codes. Section 307.5 (Attendance) is amended to require that any open burning or portable-outdoor-fireplace use at one- and two-family dwellings be constantly attended until the fire is extinguished, and that at least one 4A-rated portable fire extinguisher plus a water hose, water truck, or dirt/sand be immediately available. Smoke that escapes a property line and bothers neighbors can also be enforced as a public nuisance under separate Modesto Municipal Code provisions.
Violations & Fines
Administrative penalties under § 3-1.303(b): $500 first violation, $1,000 second violation within 12 months, $1,500 for subsequent violations within 12 months. The city may also recover full response costs (§ 3-1.305) and, where a private nuisance occurs, the resident may face civil abatement under Modesto's general nuisance provisions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a wood-burning chiminea legal in my Modesto backyard?
What about a built-in gas fire pit?
What if my neighbor's smoke drifts into my yard?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Modesto
How Modesto compares: Cities with the Strictest Fire Pit Rules·California rules heatmap·Compare Modesto to another location·View the California fire regulations overview
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