Fire pit rules in Palo Alto, CA — also called outdoor burning, recreational fire, or open flame ordinances — cover fuel types, clearances, and when burning is allowed.
Palo Alto allows gas and propane fire pits on residential property. Wood-burning recreational fires are restricted on Spare-the-Air days and prohibited in Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones in the western foothills.
Palo Alto follows Bay Area Air Quality Management District Regulation 6 Rule 3, which bans wood burning (including recreational fire pits, chimineas, and outdoor fireplaces) on declared Spare-the-Air days. Gas and propane fire features are exempt. Palo Alto Municipal Code Chapter 15.04 adopts the California Fire Code, which requires recreational fires to be at least 25 feet from structures and combustible materials, with a person attending at all times and a means of extinguishment available. In the Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone covering the western foothills near Stanford and Foothills Park, open recreational wood fires are further restricted. Commercial charcoal cooking and listed portable outdoor fireplaces under approved conditions remain allowed.
Contact your local code enforcement office for specific penalty information.
Palo Alto, CA
Palo Alto prohibits amplified music audible beyond the property line during quiet hours and requires a special event permit for outdoor amplification in publ...
Palo Alto, CA
Palo Alto Airport (PAO) enforces a voluntary curfew and noise abatement procedures, with FAA preemption limiting local authority over flight operations.
Palo Alto, CA
Palo Alto enforces strict decibel limits by zone under PAMC 9.10.040: 60 dBA day / 50 dBA night in residential, scaling up to 70 dBA in manufacturing zones.
Palo Alto, CA
Palo Alto permits construction Monday-Friday 8am to 6pm and Saturday 9am to 6pm, with no work allowed on Sundays or holidays under PAMC 9.10.060.
Palo Alto, CA
Palo Alto requires encroachment permits for new driveways, regulates curb cut dimensions, and prohibits blocking sidewalks or adjacent driveways under traffi...
Palo Alto, CA
Palo Alto restricts RV, trailer, and boat storage on public streets and requires screening for large recreational vehicles on residential property under zoni...
Side-by-side rule comparisons with other cities in Santa Clara County.
See how other cities in Santa Clara County handle fire pit rules.
See how Palo Alto's fire pit rules rules stack up against other locations.
Quick Compare
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.