Sierra County, CA Fire Regulations: Fire Pit Rules (2026)

The Sierra County Code adopts the California Fire Code by reference at Section 12.04.080(G), which sets statewide standards for recreational and open fires. Under the Fire Code, recreational fires (such as a backyard fire pit or chiminea for warmth or cooking) must generally be kept small, located a safe distance from structures and combustibles, attended at all times by a competent adult, and supervised until fully extinguished, with a means of suppression (water or a fire extinguisher) on hand. Because nearly all of unincorporated Sierra County is a State Responsibility Area, CAL FIRE rules add a key layer: during declared fire season, you typically need a free CAL FIRE campfire/open-fire permit (available at burnpermit.fire.ca.gov) to use a fire pit, wood stove, or charcoal outside a developed campground, and even permitted fires can be suspended on high-fire-danger days or under federal/state fire restrictions. Gas- and propane-fueled fire features with a shutoff valve are generally treated more leniently than wood fires. On National Forest land within the county, separate USFS campfire and stove rules apply. Always confirm current fire restrictions with CAL FIRE (Nevada-Yuba-Placer Unit) or the local National Forest before lighting any outdoor fire.