Fire pit rules in Ontario, CA — also called outdoor burning, recreational fire, or open flame ordinances — cover fuel types, clearances, and when burning is allowed.
Backyard fire pits, fire rings, chimineas, and barbecues are allowed in Ontario but must follow the 2022 California Fire Code. Barbecue/BBQ pits outside of buildings must be at least 15 feet from a structure, recreational fire pits must keep a 25-foot clearance from structures and combustibles, and the fire must be attended with extinguishing equipment available. Portable outdoor fireplaces and gas fire pits are the lower-smoke alternative.
Ontario adopts the 2022 California Fire Code (CFC) through its Municipal Code, and the Fire Prevention Bureau enforces CFC Section 307 governing open burning, recreational fires, and portable outdoor fireplaces. For barbecue and cooking pits, CFC Section 307.4 requires that BBQ pits outside of buildings not be located within 15 feet of a structure. For recreational fire pits and fire rings burning wood, CFC Section 307.4.2 sets a 25-foot clearance from structures and combustible material (unless contained in a barbecue pit), and the burn area must be no larger than 3 feet in diameter by 2 feet high. CFC Section 307.5 requires buckets, shovels, a garden hose, or a water-type fire extinguisher to be readily available and the fire to be constantly attended until extinguished. The fire department is authorized to require that any recreational fire be immediately discontinued if it constitutes a hazardous condition. Only clean, dry firewood may be burned - burning trash, leaves, or yard waste in a fire pit is prohibited under SCAQMD open-burning rules (see outdoor-burning).
Fire pits that violate Fire Code clearances or attendance rules can be ordered immediately extinguished by the Ontario Fire Department, and the violation is enforceable under the adopted California Fire Code (Chapter 1), with possible cost recovery for any fire response.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
Ontario, CA
Ontario Municipal Code section 5-29.14 prohibits operating any motor vehicle in a condition that creates excessive, impulsive or intrusive noise, including e...
Ontario, CA
Outdoor music is regulated under OMC Title 5 Chapter 29 and the special-event permit process. Venues and events with amplified sound need a city permit; resi...
Ontario, CA
No Ontario-specific ordinance directly regulates aircraft noise; the City's noise chapter exempts activities preempted by state or federal law (OMC 5-29.06(h...
Ontario, CA
Ontario prohibits razor wire on any wall or fence citywide, and bans barbed wire and electrified fences in residential, commercial, and residential mixed-use...
Ontario, CA
Every wall, fence, and gate in Ontario is subject to Planning Director design review regardless of whether a building permit is needed. A building permit is ...
Ontario, CA
Ontario fence requirements include zoning-based heights, setbacks, sight triangles, buffer walls on industrial edges, and CBC structural standards. Pool, ret...
Side-by-side rule comparisons with other cities in San Bernardino County.
See how other cities in San Bernardino County handle fire pit rules.
See how Ontario's fire pit rules rules stack up against other locations.
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.