National City, CA Fire Regulations: Fire Pits & Backyard Fires (2026)

Section 15.28.090 of the National City Municipal Code rewrites Subsection 307.4.2 of the 2025 California Fire Code, which sits in the chapter on open burning, recreational fires and portable outdoor fireplaces. As amended, it reads that recreational fires are strictly prohibited within the City limits. The amendment contains no distance from structures, size limit, hours or permit process, because the rule is a flat prohibition. Ordinance No. 2026-2560 was adopted on January 20, 2026, and it reenacted the local fire code amendments in Chapter 15.28.

The Council's reasons appear in Section 15.28.002: the dry Southern California climate, the geographical and topographical conditions in National City, and the age and concentration of structures with the increased risk of conflagration spread. The Council cited Health and Safety Code Sections 17958.7 and 18941.5 as authority for local changes to the fire code.

Under Section 15.28.030, references in the fire code to the jurisdiction mean the City of National City, references to the chief of the bureau of fire prevention mean the Fire Marshal of the City of National City, and references to the Administrator mean the City Council. Enforcement belongs to the Community Risk Reduction Bureau in the fire department under the supervision of the Chief (Section 15.28.020). A related provision, Section 15.28.085, separately prohibits bonfires within the City limits.

A person aggrieved by an order, decision or determination of the Fire Marshal can go to the ad hoc Board of Appeals of three members appointed by the City Council under Section 15.28.140. The Board renders written decisions, and either the appellant or the Fire Marshal can appeal to the City Council within thirty days by filing written notice with the Chief of the fire department stating the reasons, with at least ten days' written notice of the hearing.